Electric and natural gas utilities periodically review their budget plan accounts to ensure customers are paying sufficient amounts to cover their usage, with a goal of avoiding too large of a "true-up" or credit at the end of the budget period. The purpose of each utility's voluntary budget plan is to levelize bill payments over the long term so customers can better manage energy costs especially during the year's coldest and hottest months. The OUCC encourages consumers to participate in budget billing programs, which are voluntary and are offered by most natural gas and electric utilities in the state.