Many years ago when the older generation would scold children for fooling around and ignoring their duties, they would use an odd phrase: "You might as well go and count electricity poles." These days, however, if people are hiking or stuck in the mountains and encounter a disaster or other emergency, and they are not sure of their exact location, their best bet is to look and see if there are any utility poles in the area. If there are, they could provide a means to save the person's life.
The reason for this is that the 350,000 electricity poles and power boxes throughout Taiwan all have specific location coordinates attached to them. The data that is attached to each one of the poles or boxes clearly indicates numbers and English letters, which make up the "electricity coordinates."
Those who understand the actual use of these coordinates have been encouraging people to seek out the poles or boxes should they need help, as these "electricity coordinates" can serve as a poor man's GPS. If people stuck in the mountains know their electricity coordinates, they can use their cell phones to contact people associated with emergency assistance. This makes it possible for vehicles to be sent, or even in some cases for helicopters to fly into mountainous areas, enabling the rescue of people who have been stranded.
An official from Taiwan Power Co. said for many years now, the Taipei County Government's Fire Bureau and other rescue agencies frequently have instructed people stranded in the mountains who call in for search and rescue help to seek out a utility pole or power box. If the person lost in the mountains is able to report the electricity coordinates or serial number listed on the pole or box, the rescue agencies will then pass along the information to Taiwan Power.
The power company will determine the location of the coordinates that have been provided and notify rescue agencies, making it easier to decide whether to carry out a land or air rescue. The system has been tested many times and has proven successful each time.
Quite a few of Taipower's installations have an area in blue with white lettering on the top. (In the case of power distribution boxes, the area with the coordinates is in white with red lettering.) A combination of English letters and numbers is located in those areas, creating a serial number. In some cases, the string of numbers is nine characters long, while in other cases, there could be as many as 11 numbers. This information constitutes the "electricity coordinates." However, most people are not aware of the function of these coordinates.
Chen Shu-hui, the head of Taipower's Operations Information Division, said throughout Taiwan (including offshore islands), there are about three million electricity poles and some 200,000 power distribution boxes or rooms. Starting 20 years ago, Taipower began copying a system used in the United States and commenced to show electricity coordinates on electrical installations.
As of the beginning of this year, the markings have been established on about 99 percent of power distribution boxes on the sides of streets (amounting to about 200,000 boxes), and on about 150,000 of the most important electricity poles. This creates a network throughout Taiwan of 350,000 poles or boxes labeled with power coordinates. The density of this network is far greater than that of satellite positioning stations or base stations for cell phone service.
The National Fire Agency at the start of this year began promoting the understanding and use among the public of the electricity coordinates. Officers who work in fire service offices in cities and counties throughout Taiwan have undergone training so that they are able to convert the electricity coordinates into exact locations. This proves vital in carrying out rescues.
Should a person either get stuck or encounter an emergency, all they need to do is find the electricity coordinates on a nearby electricity pole or power distribution box, and report the two rows of English letters or numbers to a rescue and relief agency. Then they just have to wait for help to arrive.
In fact, there are many uses for these electricity coordinates. There have even been some people who when they go online, identify themselves according to the electricity coordinates in the area where they live. People who live in the same coordinates have formed groups and have exchanged information on the advantages of using the coordinates. Some people will use the coordinates as a means of identifying scenic spots. To be sure, the popularity of using this "poor man's GPS" is gradually sweeping across Taiwan.
(This article originally appeared in “The Liberty Times” March 7, 2010.)