Question

Why do lenders use your utilities payment history to approve credit?

Answer 1

There is more than one reason, but there are two main things they are looking at.  They need to see if you are paying on time.  The payment history will show if you get behind or not.  And because a utility bill is similar to a loan payment, because you have to pay it or you lose your services, they see how responsible you are by checking that.  The second major reason they do this is to see what your debt is already.  They want to make sure you can afford, with all your bills, to pay them back.