ALLETE, Inc. reports third quarter earnings of 56 cents per share

DULUTH, Minn. - ALLETE (NYSE: ALE) today reported third quarter 2010 earnings of 56 cents per share on net income of $19.6 million and revenue of $224.1 million.

In the third quarter of 2009, company earnings were 49 cents per share and net income was $16 million on revenue of $178.8 million. Higher industrial sales were a primary reason for the 23 percent year-over-year increase in net income.

"We're pleased with these financial results," said ALLETE CEO and President Alan R. Hodnik. "And we are particularly pleased that economic improvement was seen by customers in our service territory compared to what was experienced a year ago."

Quarterly net income in ALLETE's Regulated Operations segment improved from $16.6 million in 2009 to $22.1 million in 2010, due to a number of factors. The combination of higher rates and electric sales were partially offset by significant increases in operating, interest and depreciation expenses.

The Investments and Other segment recorded a quarterly net loss of $2.5 million versus a net loss of $600,000 in the same period a year ago. Higher operating expenses were a primary contributor to the period over period decrease.

An increase in the average number of common shares outstanding, with issuance proceeds used to fund the capital expenditure program, had a dilutive impact of four cents per share for the quarter.

Hodnik said he expects ALLETE to finish 2010 by recording earnings in a range between $2.25 and $2.35 per share, excluding the first quarter 12 cent per share non-recurring charge as a result of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

ALLETE's corporate headquarters are located in Duluth, Minnesota. In addition to its electric utilities, Minnesota Power in northeast Minnesota and Superior Water, Light & Power Co. in northwest Wisconsin, ALLETE owns BNI Coal in Center, N. D. and has an 8 percent equity interest in the American Transmission Co. In late 2009, it purchased a 465-mile direct current transmission line between Duluth, Minn. and Center, N.D. to transport renewable wind energy from its Bison I Wind Energy Center, which is currently under construction near New Salem, N.D. More information about the company is available on ALLETE'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.

ALLETE's press releases and other communications may include certain non-Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) financial measures. A "non-GAAP financial measure" is defined as a numerical measure of a company's financial performance, financial position or cash flows that excludes (or includes) amounts that are included in (or excluded from) the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP in the company's financial statements.

Non-GAAP financial measures utilized by the Company include presentations of earnings (loss) per share. ALLETE's management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information to investors by removing the effect of variances in GAAP reported results of operations that are not indicative of changes in the fundamental earnings power of the Company's operations. Management believes that the presentation of the non-GAAP financial measures is appropriate and enables investors and analysts to more accurately compare the company's ongoing financial performance over the periods presented.

Investor Contact:
Tim Thorp
218.723.3953
tthorp@allete.com