Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in Georgia

Contact the state public service commission, which should slap the power company for you. Unless you cosigned the other bill, they can't do this. You might, if they persist, have a right to sue the power company over the improper collection.

The large utility companies in Georgia have done this for many years, and it usually works for them. Years ago, it was my job to do just this for one of them. The PSC has not stopped them. There is a valid legal theory used by the utilities. Adults who live in a property get the benefits of the utilities and under the law people who willingly obtain benefits are often liable, whether or not they sign the original application or are the first to call the utility for service. Under the law, utilities virtually have to provide service to everyone without a complicated contract, and the flip side of this is that they try to collect from the people who actually use the service. This keeps people from moving around and changing the names on accounts to avoid payment. You can certainly try the PSC and it may work, but this is standard procedure that has been enforced for a long, long time. Even if you do not have to pay the old bill, expect a sizable deposit.