Per Experian, a utility (gas, water) will only do a soft pull. So, I'm in the "you're too worried" camp. They don't even report these types of accounts to the CBs — even if they're deliquent. I don't know why, but probably because utilities are a necessity of life for most people unless you've figured out how to live off grid. They have everyone between a rock and a hard place so they know you'll have to figure out how to get your utilities paid somehow.
Just in case you are, don't get cell phone and internet service providers confused with being utility companies — they are not utilities. Experian offers a product called Boost where you can have your payment history reported to them to raise your credit scores.
Personally, I'd never do that. Knowing that they'd never report you to CB is my ace in the hole. If I need to "rob Peter to pay Paul" as my mom used to say, I can always make a partial payment to the gas or electric company and try to catch up at a later date. I haven't had to do that in a really long time, but still... ya never know.
