Can a light company require you to pay a

Past due balance before they employ you?

My mom told me she was offered a job at our local power company but they are requiring her to pay an old balance first. The total was somewhere in the $500-600 range. She borrowed $250 from me. Part of me really feels like she’s lying as she is known for lying about any and everything 🙄. Mind you, she would be leaving a good paying job while I’m not even working right now. She said she’d pay me back by today and I haven’t heard from her at all which is not normal. I know you aren’t supposed to lend money that you can’t afford to not get back but…it’s my mom and she’s manipulative and I’m still learning to say ‘no’ 😩😩