Electric Socket Cover Missing.. Who's responsibility?

[Rafael Norat]

So I have a section 8 tenant who moved out of state but left her belonging in my rental unit for 3 months. Within that time, which section 8 continued to pay, the electric was turned off due to lack of payment. She finally came to pick her stuff up over the weekend. Problem: The electric company came today to start service again, but the meter socket cover is missing. They tried to use another cover but cannot find a match. I now need to hire an electrician to inspect the meter socket and replace the cover. Question: Is this the previous tenants potential cost? Electric company believes the tenant may have removed to turn on the power, damaged the box, and disposed of. I have no visual proof it was the tenant, but the cover was not missing before. Still have their security to disburse. Thoughts?