Utilities on alert for possible Michigan wind-related outages; contract workers may head east

Michigan utilities say high winds could cause power outages in the state and they're keeping an eye on the weather to respond to power problems.

DTE Energy Co. says gusts of 50 mph Monday evening and Tuesday could affect some it its 2.1 million customers.

Detroit-based DTE says it has released 100 contract line workers to assist utilities along the eastern U.S. with storm response.

Hurricane Sandy bore down on the Eastern Seaboard and strengthened, putting it on a collision course with two other weather systems that would create a superstorm.

CMS Energy Corp.'s Consumers Energy unit says storms also may affect some of its 1.8 million Michigan customers.

Consumers Energy says it has released more than a dozen employees and 120 contract employees to assist in the eastern U.S.