[header] How to use budget billing for your utilities [title] Meet the signup criteria. [step] Many utility companies require a certain degree of personal stability from customers who want a budget billing plan. For instance, you might need to have lived in your current residence for at least 12 months. 
You'll probably also need to be debt-free with your utility company. This shows the company that you are a reliable customer, and provides them with an accurate metric when estimating your budget billing amount.