Many people don’t realize it, but your monthly utility bills—like electricity, water, internet, and even streaming services—can actually help increase your credit score. However, this only works if you’re using a specific service that reports these payments to a credit bureau. One of the most well-known options is Experian Boost®ø.
Without a service like this, your utility payment history won’t automatically show up on your credit reports. So even if you pay on time every month, it won’t have any impact on your credit score—unless you take extra steps to make those payments count.
Are Utility Bills Normally Reported to Credit Bureaus?
Usually, utility companies do not report your payments to the major credit bureaus—Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. This means that, under normal circumstances, paying your electric, water, or internet bill on time won’t help your credit score.
But with Experian Boost, you can change that—at least for your Experian credit report. This free service allows you to link certain recurring payments like utilities, rent, and streaming services directly to your Experian file, which can help raise your FICO® Score.
Keep in mind that this boost only affects your Experian credit report—it does not impact the credit scores lenders see from Equifax or TransUnion.
How Utility Payments Can Improve Your Credit Score
Experian Boost works by scanning your bank and credit card transactions for qualifying payments, such as:
- Utility bills (like gas, water, and electricity)
- Rent payments
- Streaming subscriptions
- Internet and phone bills
If the tool finds a pattern of on-time payments, it will allow you to add those to your Experian credit file. Since payment history is the most important factor in your credit score, this can lead to a noticeable score increase.
The best part? Only your positive payments are counted. If you ever make a late payment, it won’t lower your score through Experian Boost.
How to Get Started with Experian Boost:
- Sign up for free on the Experian website.
- Enter your basic personal details (like your name, date of birth, and email).
- Link the bank or credit card account you use to pay your utility and other monthly bills.
- Review and verify the payments Experian finds.
- Choose which bills to add to your credit report.
Once added, you may see a FICO® Score boost instantly. On average, users who benefit from Boost report a 13-point increase to their FICO® Score based on Experian data.
Which Bills Are Eligible for Experian Boost?
Here are the types of monthly payments you can add using Experian Boost:
- Mobile phone and landline bills
- Internet services
- Cable or satellite TV
- Electricity and gas
- Water and trash services
- Streaming services (like Netflix, Hulu, etc.)
- Solar energy payments
- Rent payments (if you’ve made at least three in the last six months, including one in the last 90 days)
This variety gives you plenty of opportunities to use your regular bills to positively influence your credit score.
Will Lenders See My Experian Boost Score?
It depends on which credit bureau the lender uses. If the lender checks your Experian report, they will see the benefits of Experian Boost and the score may be higher. But if they use Equifax or TransUnion, the utility and rent payments you added through Boost won’t appear at all.
Because lenders don’t usually reveal which credit bureau they’ll pull from, there’s no guarantee Boost will help in every situation—but it still improves your overall credit profile.
Can Utility Bills Hurt My Credit?
Although utility companies don’t report on-time payments, they can report unpaid bills—but not directly. If you fall behind and miss multiple payments or leave your account unpaid for months, the utility company may:
- Send your account to a collection agency
- “Charge off” the account if they consider it uncollectible
If this happens, it will appear on your credit report and can drop your score significantly. A collection or charge-off stays on your report for seven years and makes it harder to get loans or credit cards.
Another Risk: NCTUE Reporting
There’s also a lesser-known agency called the National Consumer Telecom & Utilities Exchange (NCTUE). It’s a specialized reporting agency used by utility and telecom companies to track customers’ payment histories. If you have an unpaid balance with one provider, other companies in the network may see that when you apply for service.
For example, if you didn’t pay your gas bill and try to sign up with another gas provider, they might ask for a deposit or deny you service based on your NCTUE record.
Bottom Line
Paying your utility bills on time is something you’re likely doing already—but with the help of Experian Boost, those payments can also help raise your credit score.
It’s easy to sign up, free to use, and only considers your on-time payments—so there’s no downside.
You can also save even more money by using Experian’s BillFixer tool, which helps negotiate lower bills with your utility providers. That means not only can you raise your credit score, but you may also reduce your monthly expenses.
If you’re trying to build or rebuild credit, turning your everyday bills into credit-building tools is a smart move—and Experian Boost makes it simple.
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