Can my landlord refuse to confirm residency if i am getting my electricity turned on in someone elses name?

The electric company called my landlord after my friend got our electric in his name. before they can come turn it on, they need to verify residency, so when they called my landlord, he freaked out, called me and accused me of having someone else living with us. when i explained the situation, and that he is just turning it on for us, he got angry and said that i am doing something illegal by having my friend get it in his name if he doesnt live with us. i told him im not asking him to lie to the electric company. that he can call them and say “no, this dude isnt living here but he is getting the electric turned on for two residents that are living here” and that they would then turn it on. all they are trying to do is know someone is living here right? what do i do. i still have no power, because he wont verify residency.