At least in North America (and I’d guess elsewhere, but I’ve been surprised before) there’s not a transformer per dwelling in anything besides low density rural

At least in North America (and I’d guess elsewhere, but I’ve been surprised before) there’s not a transformer per dwelling in anything besides low density rural areas. It wasn’t having to go back out to or through a transformer, just back out along the common wire serving that phase to his and his neighbour’s houses. It’s functionally equivalent to connecting two outlets on the same phase within your house, just a bit longer distance.