Tim Thorp Promoted To Vice President

Tim Thorp Promoted To Vice President Tim Thorp, currently Director - Investor Relations has been promoted to Vice President - Investor Relations and Corporate Communications reporting directly to Dave Gartzke, President of ALLETE. In his new role and in addition to his responsibility for investor relations and shareholder services, he will assume responsibility for corporate-wide communications.

Thorp, a Duluth native, is a graduate of the University of Minnesota-Duluth and has worked with ALLETE/Minnesota Power in a number of positions since joining the Company in April 1978.

"Tim has worked with the analysts and investment community over the years and has earned their respect and confidence," said Gartzke. "His knowledge of ALLETE's corporate-wide operations combined with corporate communications will serve to enhance the financial market's understanding of the value of this company."

ALLETE's corporate headquarters are in Duluth, Minn. ALLETE's holdings include the second largest wholesale automobile auction network in North America; the leading provider of independent auto dealer inventory financing; the largest investor-owned water utilities in Florida and North Carolina; significant real estate holdings in Florida; and a low-cost electric utility that serves some of the largest industrial customers in the United States. For more information about ALLETE, visit the company's web site at www.allete.com.

The statements contained in this release and statements that ALLETE may make orally in connection with this release that are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and investors are directed to the risks discussed in documents filed by ALLETE with the Securities and Exchange Commission