A system with truly "free markets" in a hypothetical economic system will have perfect competition [1], which includes zero cost to enter and exit markets, large numbers of buyers and sellers, rational buyers, perfect information, and profit maximization of sellers (among other attributes). In this hypothetical model sellers cannot capture excess value because competitors will take that opportunity to capture larger market share.

Excess profit capture represents market failure or disruption.

[1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfect_competition

I take it you skipped your Econ 101 course the day they went over “rent seeking behavior” and the distinction between accounting profits and economic profits. Economic profits (ie. excess profits) are a characteristic of markets lacking sufficient competition. Considering US antitrust laws haven’t been enforced since the Clinton administration, this finding on excess profits would not surprise any honest economist (ie. not on the payroll of a far-right think tank). The M&A spree of the last 30 years has been a mass pillaging of the American working class.

Utility companies in the US are, for the most part, government sponsored monopolies. Nothing "free" about this market. The same goes for internet providers.

The consumer exists to have money extracted from them. Of course prices should rise as high as they possibly can.

no such thing as a free market