Aug. 13--When my electric bill arrived in the mail this week, I placed it on the kitchen counter. It's still there.

With this summer's high temperatures, I'm afraid this month's payment is going to set a record.

Thankfully, I'm in a financial position to pay my bills on time. But I must confess that there was a time when funds were so tight that I didn't take the utility bill seriously until it came in a pink envelope with the message: Open Immediately. My fear then was that the power would be turned off on Thursday night during "The Cosby Show."

But anyone thinking about skipping utility payments today might have bigger worries down the road.

Delinquent utility accounts can end up on your credit report. And like any other negative credit information, it can affect whether you qualify for a new home or car and the interest rate you pay on those items.

Unfortunately, many people don't realize this. A study of 3.2 million consumers by Experian's telecommunications, energy and cable division found that 44 percent have to choose between paying their utility bills or paying on other types of credit each month. Most people chose to pay the credit companies first, according to the study.

"They feel they've got to pay the ... [credit cards] first or their interest rate will go up if they are just a few days late," said Susan Henson, spokeswoman for Experian.

And utility companies realize their service is essential. They typically try to work with a customer before turning to a collection agency.

"It's really the last step," said David McNeill, spokesman for Progress Energy. "We do everything we can to keep the account active."

Most utility companies have payment programs, and they follow guidelines set up by the state's utilities commission when disconnecting accounts.

Under those rules, Progress Energy and Duke Energy have about 91 days to collect payment before they can turn the account over to a collection agency. That process can be much longer, depending on appeals made by the customer or any approved payment arrangements. The cycle is shorter for gas companies. They have about 76 days to collect an unpaid bill before they can turn it over for collection.

Once a bill is turned over for collection, the account is no longer under the jurisdiction of the state's utilities commission, and it becomes a civil matter.

There's another reason to pay your bills on time: It can help you establish good credit.

Typically, only delinquent payments end up on your report, but a few utility companies have started reporting their customers' monthly payment activity to credit reporting agencies. "Consumers who have been paying on time can be rewarded for that and help them build credit," said Henson.

So far, none of the major utilities in the Triangle, including Progress Energy and PSNC Energy, report the information.

But if you think your bill-paying history can help you, there is a way to get it on your credit report without the utilities' help. It's called alternative credit reporting. More on that next week.