"Detective Work" on a Foreclosed Property (Calling the Utility Companies)

[Kristine Ann]

I'm new to foreclosure auctions.  There's a property in the neighborhood I grew up in that I'm going to bid on. 

Read through the court documents online and it doesn't appear that the owner on title attended any hearings or tried to stop the foreclosure.  The proceedings went on for two years because the mortgage company couldn't show that the house was vacant but also couldn't prove that the notice was delivered/received by the prior owner.  It sounded like they suspected he was not living there but couldn't figure out where he was.   

As part of my research, I was thinking I'd call the utility companies to get some information.  Is it common place to call the utility companies to get information on electric, gas, water and garbage pick up? I'm curious to see if any of the utilities are on, how much is due, and when they were turned off.  Will the utility company give me this information or no because of privacy laws?