ALLETE has entered an agreement to be acquired by a partnership led by Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and Global Infrastructure Partners and start the process to become a private company. Learn more at www.ALLETEforward.com.

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) - JULY 19, 2000 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 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS The following exhibit of Minnesota Power, Inc. is filed herewith in accordance with Item 601 of Regulation S-K: Exhibit Number 99 - Minnesota Power, Inc. News Release dated July 19, 2000 -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) July 19, 2000 D. G. Gartzke --------------------------------- D. G. Gartzke Senior Vice President - Finance and Chief Financial Officer -2-

EXHIBIT INDEX Exhibit Number 99 - Minnesota Power, Inc. News Release dated July 19, 2000

                                                                      EXHIBIT 99



[MINNESOTA POWER LOGO]                     For Release:    July 19, 2000
                                           Contact:        Terry M. Johnson
                                                           218-723-3934
                                                           tmjohnson@mnpower.com

NEWS                                       Investor        Tim Thorp
                                           Contact:        218-723-3953
                                                           tthorp@mnpower.com



                    MINNESOTA POWER SECOND QUARTER NET INCOME
                    -----------------------------------------
                INCREASED 30 PERCENT, EXCLUDING ACE LIMITED GAIN
                ------------------------------------------------

Propelled by continued strong performance  across all business units,  MINNESOTA
POWER,  INC. (NYSE:  MPL) reported a 30 percent increase in operating net income
for the second quarter.  Operating  earnings per share also increased 30 percent
for the second quarter to 48 cents per share compared to 37 cents last year.

Excluding a one-time  transaction  relating to the  company's  investment in ACE
Limited  (described  below),  2000 second quarter operating net income was $33.8
million on quarterly  revenue of $327 million  versus $26.0 million of operating
net income on $279.2 million of revenue a year ago.

"I am pleased with the  quarter-over-quarter  increases  for all of our business
segments," said Edwin L. Russell,  chief executive  officer of Minnesota  Power.
"This steady  progress  reflects the growth in value of each business as well as
the company as a whole. We continue to demonstrate a successful  transition to a
multi-services company."

AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES continued its double-digit growth with a 23 percent increase
in net income from the same quarter last year.  The number of vehicles  financed
increased  16  percent,  and the number of vehicles  sold was up 14 percent.  As
announced  in  June,   the  company   expects  to  complete  two  large  auction
acquisitions.  These  acquisitions  will  increase the number of cars sold by 60
percent in the near term with additional growth potential in the future.

Continued strong retail sales and reduced operating and maintenance  expenses in
ELECTRIC SERVICES and a growing customer base and increased consumption in WATER
SERVICES allowed each segment to increase net income eight percent over the same
quarter last year.

Bolstered by real estate sales,  the  INVESTMENTS  segment  income  increased to
$10.2 million for the quarter versus $6.4 million a year ago.

ACE LIMITED  TRANSACTION:  Minnesota  Power recorded a one-time gain of 44 cents
per share in the second  quarter of 2000  resulting from the sale of 4.7 million
shares of ACE Limited  stock.  Proceeds of $127 million were  redeployed  in the
Automotive  Services  business.  Total earnings per share for the quarter are 92
cents.

                                    - more -


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Minnesota Power News Release Page 2 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Minnesota Power, Inc. is a multi-services company with corporate headquarters in Duluth, Minnesota. Minnesota Power 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 Minnesota Power, visit the company's web site at www.mnpower.com. --------------- The statements contained in this release and statements that the company 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 the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. ### [RECYCLE LOGO] recycled paper Minnesota Power, Inc. - 30 West Superior Street, Duluth, Minnesota 55802 www.mnpower.com

Minnesota Power News Release Page 3 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MINNESOTA POWER, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR THE PERIODS ENDED JUNE 30, 2000 AND 1999 Millions Except Per Share Amounts QUARTER ENDED YEAR TO DATE 2000 1999 2000 1999 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ OPERATING REVENUE Electric Services $ 138.9 $ 135.3 $ 280.5 $ 267.5 Automotive Services 129.7 104.0 249.2 200.8 Water Services 31.7 29.9 59.7 54.3 Investments 26.7 10.0 60.2 14.3 ------- ------- -------- -------- Total Operating Revenue 327.0 279.2 649.6 536.9 ------- ------- -------- -------- OPERATING EXPENSES Fuel and Purchased Power 55.1 52.3 109.9 99.9 Operations 199.6 170.9 399.1 334.9 Interest Expense 15.2 14.4 31.5 28.6 ------- ------- -------- -------- Total Operating Expenses 269.9 237.6 540.5 463.4 ------- ------- -------- -------- OPERATING INCOME BEFORE CAPITAL RE AND ACE 57.1 41.6 109.1 73.5 INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT IN CAPITAL RE AND RELATED DISPOSITION OF ACE 48.0 (13.4) 48.0 (15.8) ------- ------- -------- -------- OPERATING INCOME 105.1 28.2 157.1 57.7 DISTRIBUTIONS ON REDEEMABLE PREFERRED SECURITIES OF SUBSIDIARY 1.5 1.5 3.0 3.0 INCOME TAX EXPENSE 39.4 24.8 59.5 31.9 ------- ------- -------- -------- NET INCOME 64.2 1.9 94.6 22.8 DIVIDENDS ON PREFERRED STOCK 0.3 0.5 0.8 1.0 ------- ------- -------- -------- EARNINGS AVAILABLE FOR COMMON STOCK $ 63.9 $ 1.4 $ 93.8 $ 21.8 ======= ======= ======== ======== AVERAGE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK 69.6 68.2 69.4 68.0 BASIC AND DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE OF COMMON STOCK $0.92 $0.02 $1.35 $0.32 MINNESOTA POWER, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET Millions JUN. 30, DEC. 31, 2000 1999 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ASSETS Current Assets $ 707.9 $ 564.5 Property, Plant and Equipment 1,311.5 1,258.8 Investments 109.0 197.2 Goodwill 322.2 181.0 Other 109.6 111.1 --------- --------- TOTAL ASSETS $ 2,560.2 $ 2,312.6 ========= ========= JUN. 30, DEC. 31, 2000 1999 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Current Liabilities $ 600.6 $ 398.3 Long-Term Debt 720.1 712.8 Other Liabilities 277.8 289.2 Mandatorily Redeemable Preferred Securities of MP&L Capital I 75.0 75.0 Redeemable Serial Preferred Stock - 20.0 Stockholders' Equity 886.7 817.3 --------- --------- TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY $ 2,560.2 $ 2,312.6 ========= ========= [RECYCLE LOGO] recycled paper Minnesota Power, Inc. - 30 West Superior Street, Duluth, Minnesota 55802 www.mnpower.com

Minnesota Power News Release Page 4 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- QUARTER ENDED YEAR TO DATE JUNE 30, JUNE 30, MINNESOTA POWER, INC. 2000 1999 2000 1999 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NET INCOME Millions Electric Services $ 9.3 $ 8.6 $ 20.0 $ 19.6 Automotive Services 14.7 12.0 26.6 21.6 Water Services 4.1 3.8 6.5 5.7 Investments 10.2 6.4 21.7 9.3 Corporate Charges (4.5) (4.8) (10.6) (9.3) ------ ------- ------- ------- Net Income Before Capital Re and ACE 33.8 26.0 64.2 46.9 Capital Re and ACE Transactions 30.4 (24.1) 30.4 (24.1) ------ ------- ------- ------- Net Income $ 64.2 $ 1.9 $ 94.6 $ 22.8 BASIC AND DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE Before Capital Re and ACE Transactions $ 0.48 $ 0.37 $ 0.91 $ 0.67 Capital Re and ACE Transactions 0.44 (0.35) 0.44 (0.35) ------ ------- ------ ------- $ 0.92 $ 0.02 $ 1.35 $ 0.32 STATISTICAL DATA CORPORATE Common Stock High 20 3/4 21 13/16 20 3/4 22 3/32 Low 16 18 15/16 14 3/4 18 15/16 Close 17 5/16 19 7/8 17 5/1 19 7/8 Book Value $11.79 $10.77 $11.79 $10.77 ELECTRIC SERVICES Millions of Kilowatthours Sold Retail Residential 192.0 191.8 449.9 445.9 Commercial 245.0 237.7 521.7 504.3 Industrial 1,719.4 1,619.3 3,438.3 3,261.1 Other 17.3 17.1 35.6 34.9 Resale 686.1 815.8 1,534.0 1,459.7 ------- ------- ------- ------- 2,859.8 2,881.7 5,979.5 5,705.9 AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES Vehicles Sold 307,000 270,000 602,000 530,000 Vehicles Financed 202,000 175,000 397,000 323,000 EBITDAL (Millions) $39.6 $32.1 $74.0 $59.9 WATER SERVICES Millions of Gallons Billed Florida Water Services Water 5,713.7 5,285.8 9,951.9 9,019.8 Wastewater 1,471.2 1,389.2 2,760.6 2,509.1 Heater Utilities Water 973.3 773.0 1,656.8 1,263.0 - ---------------- In May 2000 Minnesota Power sold its investment in ACE Limited (ACE) common stock, which resulted in an after-tax gain of $30.4 million, or $0.44 per share. The ACE shares were received in December 1999 upon completion of ACE's merger with Capital Re Corporation (Capital Re). During 1999 Minnesota Power recorded an aggregate $36.2 million, or $0.52 per share after-tax non-cash charge in connection with the valuation and exchange of its investment in Capital Re stock for the ACE shares, including a $24.1 million, or $0.35 per share charge in the second quarter. Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, Amortization and Lease Expense [RECYCLE LOGO] recycled paper Minnesota Power, Inc. - 30 West Superior Street, Duluth, Minnesota 55802 www.mnpower.com