I use direct draft for all my utility bills and have been for years. I still get a paper statement at the end of each month. I would be just as convenient to get an email as a paper statement, if the utility company would just email me the damn thing.
Most of the utility companies expect you to log on to their web site and set up an account. I see no reason for this inconvenience. IDT, my long distance phone service, even tried to charge me a dollar for a paper statement. When I called to cancel the service they agreed to waive the fee. I suggested to them at that time, if they would just email it to me, that would be fine. They informed me they were not set up to do that. Fine......mail me the damn thing then.
To make paperless work, the utility companies should realize that we are talking about a utility bill and not CIA documents. Cut out the web site log on and just email the bill. A bank furnished email for this would be nice, but not necessary.