Local news station would eat this up!

show them your paper work that says when you moved in. that's silly. I hope they get it together. plus, there's a different name on the account, or can they not tell the difference?

Hopefully, there is light at the end of this tunnel.

Wauw they sounds a bit retarded, tell em you paid already :p

Just take your lease there and explain. Or get a lawyer involved

Contact their customer service and billing dispute service and ask for a way to show proof that you weren't the one who owes that money. you can likely fax documentation showing the lease/purchase date as well as the start of your account. if they won't do anything then? and still expect you to pay? there is legal recourse, but local news can likely twist their arm through pressure.

There might be a law in your state that prevents them from doing that

I work for a power company (but not this one so sorry I can't help) and I see this from time to time. It's sometimes a big hassle because the power company has to put their foot down until proof if provided. It can be a long process and I always felt bad for the people who clearly had just moved there and got tangled in the previous persons mess. So long as they provide the paperwork from buying the place or a lease if they're renting it should be cleared. Or, like what I see happen ALL the time and it drove me nuts when I couldn't directly fix it. People try to close their old accounts with thousands of dollars being paid and then they open a new account under a different name. Sometimes, it's just a matter of time before we can link the two together. If that happens, they're responsible for the their old balance. Probably not the case here.. Seems like they just moved into the wrong place at the wrong time and accidentally assumed a balance that wasn't theirs. Still, all kinds of crazy stuff can happen lol

Two words: law-suit

there's gotta be documents to prove when you moved in, OP. best of luck!