Editing Alternating current (section)

===Low frequency===
A low frequency eases the design of electric motors, particularly for hoisting, crushing and rolling applications, and commutator-type [[traction motor]]s for applications such as [[railway]]s. However, low frequency also causes noticeable flicker in [[arc lamp]]s and [[incandescent light bulb]]s. The use of lower frequencies also provided the advantage of lower transmission losses, which are proportional to frequency. 

The original Niagara Falls generators were built to produce 25&nbsp;Hz power, as a compromise between low frequency for traction and heavy induction motors, while still allowing incandescent lighting to operate (although with noticeable flicker). Most of the 25&nbsp;Hz residential and commercial customers for Niagara Falls power were converted to 60&nbsp;Hz by the late 1950s, although some{{which|date=December 2011}} 25&nbsp;Hz industrial customers still existed as of the start of the 21st century. 16.7&nbsp;Hz power (formerly 16 2/3&nbsp;Hz) is still used in some European rail systems, such as in [[Austria]], [[Germany]], [[Norway]], [[Sweden]] and [[Switzerland]].{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}