Landlord Never Changed Electricity Account - Required to Pay?

[Vin L.]

Hello,

Recently moved to a condo unit that was available for LEASE in Los Angeles, California using a Property Manager.  Upon the CAR FORM LEASE, it states that tenant is responsible for electricity under paragraph 9 for utilities.  However, when the tenant moved into the premise, the electricity was already on. The tenant never received an electricity bill from Southern California Edison.  This went on for about two months; tenant always had electricity service provided.  After two months, the property manager informs the tenant that the landlord has been receiving the electric bills and never had changed the account over to the tenant.  The assumption of continuing electricity for two months is that the homeowner's account was never canceled and automatic payment was setup.

Is the tenant, by law, required to pay for the electric bill from the two months?  Since the tenant never had the electric bill under their name, is the tenant required to reimburse the landlord for the two months of electricity usage?  

[Matt K.]

How are you going to answer in court when the judge asks why the tenant never put the electricity in their name........for 2 months?