[sharonl7340]

Originally Posted by MrLonzo

Well, I guess the answer is there is no 'welcoming committee'.

For electric service, I heard the names SECO and Duke Energy. Ok. Which should I use? Do they both service my area? After about 3 websites and 4 calls, I finally got an account with SECO. Took the better part of a day.

Now on to a gas provider. The name on my breaker panel is LECO (see photo). I went to the LECO site and got nowhere. My real estate agent said TECO. Again, I’m fishing around for information about providers – are they exclusive to my area or overlapping? I go to the TECO website, it says “Tampa Electric” COmpany. Electric? I’m look for gas! And Tampa? I’m in the Villages. Do you see how the new guy on the block can be confused?

And next on the list is internet providers. And trash collectors. And water/sewer. And on and on.

Someone said talk to a neighbor and find out what they’re using. It’s hard when you haven’t moved in yet and met the neighbors because you’re still in another state packing your stuff trying to move.
Others suggested different websites, and there is a lot of information so easy to get lost in. One contact suggested was the Community Development District. I did email them with some questions and was told to call SECO and TECO for electric and gas service for my area, but no further details. Do they have competitors? Or are they monopoly utilities? Why does TECO have so many websites? And what is this LECO? And what about water, sewer, trash pickup?

Finally, after 3 days, I found this on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6I6_1vAdBM. Starting at 1 minute in, it answers most of the ‘start up’ questions I’ve been asking for 3 days! I find it incredible that with all the people buying and moving into homes everyday in “Florida’s Friendliest Hometown” that there’s no one (not even the real estate agent) who provides some simple introduction like this. I also came across a book, “Inside the Bubble” by Ryan Erisman, which provides a lot of tips and details about living in the Villages. It’s $25 on Amazon, but right now I’m only interested in Chapter 25 entitled “Things to do right after moving here”. Too bad the Villages has people holding doors open for you at the sales offices, but doesn’t even have a 1-page informational brochure on these 'move-in' topics for new buyers moving to the Villages!

Not quite the "friendliest town," but you should get all that info at closing. You'll find that once they have your money, they are not concerned with you. That is until the trolls report you for non-compliance, then their hands are tied.