This discussion brings a question to me. In North America the electrical system is 120/240v where you get 120v with a hot conductor and the neutral and 240v between two hot conductors of the opposite phase. So in a residence the larger electrical loads (Electric ranges, water heaters, clothes dryers, HVAC etc) run on 240v. I sort of assumed that those types of appliances might use a higher voltage in the nominal 230v countries. I was in a store in the UK and I looked at the back of some of the larger aplliances and saw a 230v rating plate on it. Do countries with 230v electricity have any sort of similar systems to the 120/240v system in North America?

edited to add: I am asking about residential service. We do not need to get into commercial service, three phase etc.