Electricity is provided by Houston Lighting and Power, 207-7777.  Most neighborhoods receive gas service from Entex, 659-2111 or 342-6665. Local telephone service will be provided by Southwestern Bell, 1-800-464-7928, GTE, 1-800-4834400, or ALLTEL Sugar Land Telephone Co., 490-9213. Check with your real estate agent, the previous owner of your home or a neighbor to see which company's territory you live in.

Unless you live in Sugar Land or Houston, which provide their own service, your water and sewer services are provided through one of the municipal utility districts (MUDs) or a water control and improvement district (WICD). ECO Resources, 240-1988, provides water and sewer services for parts of Fort Bend including parts of Sugar Land, First Colony, Greatwood, New Territory and Pecan Grove. ST Environmental Services, 589-6000, provides water and sewer services to MUD 37, MUD 45, MUD 47 and MUD 48 in Fort Bend County. The address and telephone number for the company that is providing your water and sewer service will also be included on the monthly bills.

Garbage pick-up is also handled differently in each subdivision unit. Most residential subdivisions have garbage service contracted through a community improvement or homeowners association. Residents receive periodic bills, are billed through the monthly municipal utility district statement or pay for the service through annual maintenance assessments. Residents of Sugar Land and Houston receive garbage service from a city contractor and receive no separate bill.

Licensed drivers moving to Fort Bend County from out-of-state must apply for a Texas license immediately upon moving into the area. New residents with valid licenses from other states are required to take a written test covering Texas driving rules and regulations, complete a medical questionnaire and take a vision test. The written test is based on the Texas Driver's Handbook that is available free from the DPS.

Texans with licenses moving into the county need to present the Texas Department of Public Safety office with proof of liability insurance, a valid Texas driver's license and a vehicle license receipt.

Newcomers to Fort Bend County from out-of-state will need to register their vehicles and receive new license plates from the Department of Motor Vehicles in the Jane Long Annex building in Richmond or from one of the branch offices in Sugar Land, Missouri City or Needville. To register, residents will provide the DMV with a (Texas) inspection certificate, out-of-state registration and proof of liability insurance.

Registering to vote can be done either in person at the William Travis Building in Richmond or by mail. To register, you must be 18 years old and show proof of address.

Voter registration cards are available at city halls, post offices and libraries. Cards can also be picked up from the county clerk's office and the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce, 445 Commerce Green in Sugar Land. Deadline for registering is 30 days prior to an election.

Those already registered to vote who move and change precincts need to file an address change at the county clerk's office in Richmond.

City and school district board of trustees elections are held annually in May. County officials are elected in November of even numbered years. Primaries are held in March, with run-offs, if needed, in April.

For more information call or e-mail  Diane C. Moser Broker - CIPS, CRS, GRI Referral & Relocation Certified (713) 827-8017