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) - AUGUST 8, 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 5. OTHER EVENTS. Reference is made to Minnesota Power, Inc.'s (Minnesota Power or Company) 1999 Form 10-K for background information on the following update. Unless otherwise indicated, cited references are to the Company's 1999 Form 10-K. Ref. Page 1 - First Paragraph On August 8, 2000 Minnesota Power announced it will begin doing business as ALLETE (NYSE: ALE), effective September 1, 2000. The new name better reflects the identity of a multi-services company with businesses across the United States and Canada. The Company's regulated electric business will continue to be called Minnesota Power, a name appropriate for an energy business located primarily in Minnesota. Shareholders will be asked to approve changing the Company's legal name at the next annual meeting of shareholders, which will be held on May 8, 2001. Headquarters for ALLETE will remain in Duluth, Minnesota. -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) August 8, 2000 D. G. Gartzke --------------------------------- D. G. Gartzke Senior Vice President - Finance and Chief Financial Officer -2-