COLUMBUS, Ohio — As areas across Ohio struggle with power outages and blackouts during the high heat, energy companies seek to increase utility bills. This comes as new testimony accuses the state's utility regulating body of trying to go easy on and help energy companies.

It's been a hot and expensive summer.

"It's gone up, I would say about a third this year," Parma resident Sean Brennan said.

Brennan knows that his utility costs typically go up this time of year, but it's what is happening behind the scenes that worries him.

"The utilities really have an inordinate amount of power, despite the fact that the power should really rest in the hands of the people," he said.

He became a Democratic state representative, trying to help people like him frustrated by bills. This is why he is

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