subletters and utilities

[Thythe]

My friends and I sublet our apartment over the summer to a couple of people. We left the utilities in our name...and they didn't pay any of them. Now it's October and we owe $450 in electricity, which is in my name. They agreed in an e-mail to pay utilities over the summer, but so far they haven't paid. My former roommates also refuse to pay (they are all on our lease, but the electric bill is in my name). Do I have any legal recourse to take when the electric company eventually takes out a collection agency on me? Should I just pay the whole thing myself to save my credit? I need OOTs masterful advice.