Consumers Energy and DTE are waiting to hear from electric utilities in the south and east that are bearing the brunt of a strong winter storm this week.
Tens of thousands of people in the Deep Southhave already lost power from the storm that is raining down large amounts of ice and snow in places that rarely see either.
A Consumers Energy spokesman says the Jackson-based utility has offered 25 contractor crews but has yet to hear from any utilities in the affected areas.
However, a DTE spokesman says it is sending 80 linemen to the Baltimore area.
Utilities have standing agreements to provide assistance to one another during large power outages.
Many out-of -state utility crews poured into Michigan in December when an ice storm knocked out power to more than a half million homes and businesses.
