SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549






                                    FORM 8-K
                                 CURRENT REPORT






     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934






      DATE OF REPORT (DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED) - DECEMBER 16, 1999







                              MINNESOTA POWER, INC.


                             A Minnesota Corporation
                           Commission File No. 1-3548
                   IRS Employer Identification No. 41-0418150
                             30 West Superior Street
                          Duluth, Minnesota 55802-2093
                           Telephone - (218) 722-2641








ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS.

Reference is made to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended  December
31, 1998 of Minnesota Power, Inc.  (Minnesota Power) for background  information
on the following  update.


Ref. 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1999 Page 19. - Sixth Paragraph
Ref. 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1999 Page 20. - Fourth Paragraph

On December 16, 1999 the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) closed its
investigation   into  the   reasonableness   of  Minnesota  Power's  rates.  The
investigation  was opened by the MPUC in June 1999. In early  September 1999 the
MPUC clarified that the  investigation  was preliminary in nature.  On September
29,  1999  Minnesota  Power  filed its report  explaining  1998  actual and 1999
projected  earnings,  along with an explanation of why rates continue to be just
and reasonable.

The Minnesota  Department  of Commerce  (Department)  recommended  acceptance of
Minnesota Power's September 1999 filing and closure of the investigation without
any further action. On a 3-0 vote, the MPUC closed its preliminary investigation
and determined it would not commence a full-scale rate investigation.

                                      -1-





                                   SIGNATURES


Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.





                                                     Minnesota Power, Inc.
                                               ---------------------------------
                                                         (Registrant)





December 16, 1999                                        D. G. Gartzke
                                               ---------------------------------
                                                         D. G. Gartzke
                                                Senior Vice President - Finance
                                                  and Chief Financial Officer


                                      -2-