For cable/internet in my limited experience with Time Warner and Comcast (US), there is a "passphrase" to be used if account details are to be changed. This was

For cable/internet in my limited experience with Time Warner and Comcast (US), there is a "passphrase" to be used if account details are to be changed. This was the case for certain two years ago, but maybe things have changed now. Also, the electric companies and cable companies are in fairly separate domains so I'm not sure your analogy is apt.