It's not far from the truth. I don't think they can technically get away with hitting your credit score before you signed a contract, and instead will send you a "first bill" once you do contact them, which will include the difference between the meter reading when you moved into the property, and whatever reading they had from the last tenant. Often this results in a headache while you try to avoid paying for electricity/gas you didn't consume. But it's not unheard of for utility companies to fuck with your credit score when the only major error you made was not contacting them quickly enough.

I have never experienced anything like that on either coasts of the US. The utility company has an obvious looking website that you can use to make an account and pay electronically.

In the US, any business that requests payment outside of credit card/debit card/ACH/checks is questionable.

If you have a history of non-payment they may require a security deposit, but with the exception of cable/internet most residential utility bills are sent (and paid) post-usage.

I have never experienced like that in 4 different movings. I expect to pay since the day I get the keys till days I return keys for home. I setup and account with utility, or gas, or something. They bill me in 10-30 days, I pay again in about 30 days or less.