I do software too. Test dev for an automotive manufacturer so I get to build test stands and program them. Fun stuff.

I am an electronics engineer. AC current travels long distances on a conductor while losing very little energy. DC current loses energy in the form of heat as it travels on a conductor. Centralized power grids liked we have today based on DC are not possible.

When AC shorts to ground a local thermal event occurs causing localized damage. When DC+ shorts to DC- it heats the whole conductor path from the point of contact back to the source and damages or destroys all conductors in that circuit. In the event of a short AC repairs will be much cheaper.

Google Edison Tesla, they had a years-long feud over AC vs DC power grid. An elephant may have been involved.