Renter Legality Question. Unpaid utilities over a year?

[Andrew Lindstrom]

Ok my fellow landlords, here's a doozy,

I was a U.S. Marine from 2009-2012. I lived in on base housing in Kaneohe Bay Hawaii on base housing that was subcontracted to a private civillian real estate investing firm. I was responsible for the gas and electric utilities as a renter, and paid them on time every time for myself. I turned in my house, and got a not from the utilities company after I had vacated saying that I still owed x amount of dollars on account. We got in a big dispute and ultimately I paid.

Now fast forward to November 1st and my mother got a notice in the mail from the housing on base (which is known for is unhelpfulness and error) that I owe them 159$ in unpaid utilities. They have already sent me to collections, and I am a little angry that no one ever called me and almost a year later this is the only notice I get. My wife called and apparently they claimed that they zeroed out my utilities account for me when I left and I was supposed to pay this. I am an owner of three rentals, and the way I manage my properties is that any outstanding balances are settled out of the security deposit, and I remember when my wife returned the keys and house we had to pay for a broken screen or something. Am I still liable over a year later? The management company zeroed out my balance without telling me and did not take it out of the security deposit and is now trying to accuse me of being a deadbeat. As an owner of property this makes me a little suspect. Any advice from anyone with hawaii tenant landlord familiarity would appreciated.

-Andy