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.

                                                                       2000/2001

                                                                  File No. 69-78
                                                                           -----
                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              Washington, DC 20549
                                   FORM U-3A-2

              Statement by Holding Company Claiming Exemption Under
              Rule U-3A-2 from the Provisions of the Public Utility
                           Holding Company Act of 1935

                      To Be Filed Annually Prior to March 1

             ALLETE (legally incorporated as MINNESOTA POWER, INC.)
             ------------------------------------------------------
                                (Name of company)

hereby files with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 2, its
statement  claiming  exemption as a holding  company from the  provisions of the
Public  Utility   Holding  Company  Act  of  1935,  and  submits  the  following
information:

1.   Name,  State of  organization,  location and nature of business of claimant
     and every subsidiary  thereof,  other than any exempt  wholesale  generator
     (EWG) or foreign utility  company in which claimant  directly or indirectly
     holds an interest.

State / Province Name of Organization Location Nature of Business - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ALLETE (legally incorporated as Minnesota Minnesota Duluth, MN Multi-Services Company Power, Inc.) Superior Water, Light and Power Wisconsin Superior, WI Electric, Gas and Water Company Utility Energy Land, Incorporated Wisconsin Duluth, MN Inactive MP Investments, Inc. Delaware Duluth, MN Investments RendField Land Company, Inc. Minnesota Duluth, MN Land Holding UtilEquip, Incorporated Minnesota Duluth, MN Inactive Lakeview Financial Corporation I Minnesota Duluth, MN Financial Services Lakeview Financial Corporation II Minnesota Duluth, MN Inactive ALLETE Capital I Minnesota Duluth, MN Trust PCUC Acquisition Sub, Inc. Minnesota Duluth, MN Inactive Split Rock Energy LLC Minnesota Elk River, MN Power Marketing Minnesota Power Enterprises, Inc. Minnesota Duluth, MN Product and Marketing Coordination BNI Coal, Ltd. North Dakota Bismarck, ND Coal Mining MP Affiliate Resources, Inc. Minnesota Duluth, MN Administrative Operations Minnesota Power Telecom, Inc. Minnesota Duluth, MN Telecommunications Rainy River Energy Corporation Minnesota Duluth, MN Power Marketing Synertec, Incorporated Minnesota Duluth, MN Contract Services -1- State / Province Name of Organization Location Nature of Business - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Upper Minnesota Properties, Inc. Minnesota Duluth, MN Affordable Housing Projects and Economic Development Upper Minnesota Properties-Meadowlands, Minnesota Duluth, MN Affordable Housing Project Inc. Upper Minnesota Properties-Irving, Inc. Minnesota Duluth, MN Affordable Housing Project Upper Minnesota Properties-Development, Minnesota Duluth, MN Economic Development Inc. Minnesota Power Services Group, Inc. Minnesota Duluth, MN Product Development Electric Outlet, Inc. Minnesota Duluth, MN Retailer ALLETE Water Services, Inc. Minnesota Orlando, FL Water and Wastewater Heater Utilities, Inc. South Carolina Cary, NC Water and Wastewater Treatment Utility LaGrange Waterworks Corporation North Carolina Fayetteville, NC Water Utility Brookwood Water Corporation North Carolina Fayetteville, NC Water Utility Florida Water Services Corporation Florida Orlando, FL Water and Wastewater Treatment Utility Florida Gas Services Corporation Florida Orlando, FL Inactive U.S. Maintenance and Management Florida Orlando, FL Full Maintenance Services Services Corporation Vibration Correction Services, Inc. Minnesota Duluth, MN Predictive Maintenance Services Americas' Water Services Corporation Florida Chicago, IL Contract Operations Services Florida Water Consumer Products Corporation Florida Orlando, FL Inactive Instrumentation Services, Inc. Florida Orlando, FL Predictive Maintenance Services Predictive Maintenance and Operational North Carolina Orlando, FL Inactive Services, Inc. Georgia Water Services Corporation Georgia Atlanta, GA Wastewater Treatment Utility Tennessee Water Services Tennessee Nashville, TN Inactive Corporation ALLETE Properties, Inc. Minnesota Lehigh Acres, FL Real Estate Cape Coral Holdings, Inc. Florida Cape Coral, FL Subdivider, Developer Cape Properties, Inc. Florida Cape Coral, FL Inactive Marina Resources, Inc. Florida Cape Coral, FL Marina Operations -2- State / Province Name of Organization Location Nature of Business - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lehigh Acquisition Corporation Delaware Lehigh Acres, FL Real Estate Interlachen Lakes Estates, Inc. Florida Interlachen, FL Real Estate Sundowner Properties, Inc. Pennsylvania Williston, FL Real Estate SRC of Florida, Inc. Florida Lehigh Acres, FL Real Estate Florida Landmark Communities, Inc. Florida Lehigh Acres, FL Subdivider, Developer Lehigh Corporation Florida Lehigh Acres, FL Inactive Lehigh Land & Investment, Inc. Florida Lehigh Acres, FL Inactive Cliffside Properties, Inc. California Lehigh Acres, FL Inactive Palm Coast Holdings, Inc. Florida Palm Coast, FL Inactive Sugarmill Woods Communities, Inc. Florida Homosassa, FL Inactive Enterprise Lehigh, Inc. Florida Lehigh Acres, FL Real Estate ALLETE Automotive Services, Inc. Minnesota Duluth, MN Automotive Services AutoVIN, Inc. Indiana Roswell, GA Field Information Services ADESA Corporation Indiana Indianapolis, IN Vehicle Redistribution - Corporate Operation ADESA Arkansas, Inc. Arkansas N. Little Rock, AR Vehicle Auction ADESA Ark-La-Tex, Inc. Louisiana Shreveport, LA Vehicle Auction ADESA Atlanta, LLC New Jersey Newnan, GA Vehicle Auction ADESA Birmingham, Inc. Alabama Moody, AL Vehicle Auction ADESA California, Inc. California Sacramento, CA Vehicle Auction ADESA Charlotte, Inc. North Carolina Charlotte, NC Vehicle Auction ADESA Colorado, Inc. Colorado Fountain, CO Vehicle Auction ADESA Des Moines, Inc. Iowa Des Moines, IA Vehicle Auction ADESA Houston, Inc. Texas Houston, TX Vehicle Auction ADESA Illinois, Inc. Illinois Indianapolis, IN Inactive ADESA Importation Services, Inc. Michigan Flint, MI Registered Importer ADESA Lansing, Inc. Michigan Dimondale, MI Vehicle Auction ADESA Lexington, Inc. Kentucky Lexington, KY Vehicle Auction ADESA Missouri, Inc. Missouri Barnhart, MO Vehicle Auction ADESA New Jersey, Inc. New Jersey Manville, NJ Vehicle Auction ADESA New York, Inc. New York Akron, NY Vehicle Auction ADESA Ohio, Inc. Ohio Franklin, OH Vehicle Auction ADESA Pennsylvania, Inc. Pennsylvania Mercer, PA Vehicle Auction -3- State / Province Name of Organization Location Nature of Business - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ADESA Phoenix, LLC New Jersey Chandler, AZ Vehicle Auction ADESA San Antonio, Inc. Texas San Antonio, TX Vehicle Auction ADESA Southern Indiana, Inc. Indiana Columbus, IN Vehicle Auction ADESA Texas, Inc. Texas Austin, TX Vehicle Auction ADESA Washington, Inc. Washington Auburn, WA Vehicle Auction ADESA Wisconsin, Inc. Wisconsin Portage, WI Vehicle Auction Auto Dealers Exchange of Concord, Inc. Massachusetts Framingham, MA Vehicle Auction Auto Dealers Exchange of Memphis, Inc. Tennessee Memphis, TN Vehicle Auction A.D.E. of Knoxville, Inc. Tennessee Lenoir City, TN Vehicle Auction A & H, LLC Delaware Ocala, FL Vehicle Auction ADESA Funding Corporation Indiana Indianapolis, IN Dissolved Oct. 2000 Auto Banc Corporation New Jersey Manville, NJ Wholesale Vehicle Redistributor A.D.E. Management Company Indiana Indianapolis, IN Dissolved Oct. 2000 ADESA Florida, Inc. Florida Jacksonville, FL Vehicle Auction ADESA South Florida, LLC Indiana Opa-Locka, FL Vehicle Recovery Services Auctions ADESA Indianapolis, Inc. Indiana Plainfield, IN Vehicle Auction Great Rigs Incorporated Indiana Moody, AL Vehicle Transport Automotive Finance Corporation Indiana Indianapolis, IN Financial Services AFC AIM Corporation Indiana Indianapolis, IN Financial Services AFC Funding Corporation Indiana Indianapolis, IN Financial Services Automotive Floorplan Corporation Indiana Indianapolis, IN Financial Services RAP Co., Inc. Indiana Indianapolis, IN Financial Services ComSearch, Inc. Rhode Island E. Providence, RI Vehicle Recovery Services Auctions Automotive Recovery Services, Inc. Indiana E. Providence, RI Vehicle Recovery Services Auctions Automotive Finance Canada Inc. Ontario Ottawa, ON Financial Services ADESA Properties, Inc. Delaware Wilmington, DE Financial Services ADESA Properties Canada Inc. Delaware Wilmington, DE Financial Services ADESA Automotive Services Corporation Nova Scotia Toronto, ON Inactive PAR, Inc. Indiana Indianapolis, IN Vehicle Remarketing ADESA Finance Canada Inc. Nova Scotia Halifax, NS Financial Services ADESA Canada Inc. Quebec Montreal, QC Holding Company -4- State / Province Name of Organization Location Nature of Business - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bytown Car Carriers Inc. Ontario Ottawa, ON Vehicle Transportation Suburban Auto Parts Inc. Ontario Stouffville, ON Vehicle Recovery Services Auctions 3095-1115 Quebec Inc. Quebec St. Eustache, QC Dissolved May 2000 ADESA Auctions Canada Corporation Nova Scotia Halifax, NS Vehicle Auctions ADESA Remarketing Services Inc. Ontario Mississauga, ON Vehicle Remarketing ADESA Montreal Inc. Quebec St. Eustache, QC Inactive 1109597 Ontario Inc. Ontario Mississauga, ON Amalgamated Impact Auto Auctions Ltd. Ontario St. Eustache, QC Amalgamated 714747 Alberta Inc. Alberta Mississauga, ON Amalgamated 575795 Alberta Ltd. Alberta Calgary, AB Amalgamated Independent Car Storage & Towing (1980) Alberta Calgary, AB Amalgamated (Calgary) Ltd. Impact Auto Auction Canada Inc. Ontario Mississauga, ON Amalgamated Sudbury Auto Auction Ltd. Ontario Sudbury, ON Vehicle Recovery Services Auctions Auction Finance Group Ltd. Canada Brampton, ON Merged CAAG Auto Auction Holdings Ltd. Canada Brampton, ON Amalgamated Loopkey Holdings Ltd. Saskatoon Regina, SK Dissolved CAAG Transport Ltd. British Columbia Vancouver, BC Vehicle Transport 504811 NB Ltd. New Brunswick St. John's, NF Inactive CAAG Financial Services Ltd. Canada Edmonton, AB Amalgamated Bowman Auction Services Inc. Canada Brampton, ON Amalgamated L.G. Vehicle Value Guide Inc. Canada Brampton, ON Amalgamated 79378 Manitoba Inc. Manitoba Winnipeg, MB Holds Auto Dealer License 1271047 Ontario Inc. Ontario Brampton, ON Amalgamated 1271048 Ontario Inc. Ontario Brampton, ON Amalgamated CAAG Auto Auction West Ltd. Saskatoon Regina, SK Amalgamated Edmonton Auto Auction Inc. Alberta Calgary, AB Amalgamated Calgary Auto Auction (1984) Inc. Alberta Calgary, AB Amalgamated Canada West Auctioneers & Liquidators Alberta Calgary, AB Dissolved Ltd. Saskatoon Wholesale Auto Auction Saskatoon Saskatoon, SK Amalgamated Inc. CAAG Montreal Auto Auction Ltd. Saskatoon Les Cedres, QC Amalgamated -5- State / Province Name of Organization Location Nature of Business - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CAAG Land Development Ltd. Canada Brampton, ON Amalgamated 1115763 Ontario Inc. Ontario Brampton, ON Amalgamated 3050597 Nova Scotia Limited Nova Scotia Halifax, NS Amalgamated ADESA Automotive Services LP Ontario Mississauga, ON Management Company 3048540 Nova Scotia Company Nova Scotia Halifax, NS General Partner 3048538 Nova Scotia Company Nova Scotia Halifax, NS General Partner Footnotes - ----------------------------------- Effective September 1, 2000 Minnesota Power, Inc. was renamed ALLETE. Accordingly, other name changes were made. MP&L Capital I was renamed ALLETE Capital I on the same date. MP Automotive Services, Inc. was renamed ALLETE Automotive Services, Inc., MP Water Resources Group, Inc. was renamed ALLETE Water Services, Inc. and MP Real Estate Holdings, Inc. was renamed ALLETE Properties, Inc., all effective October 4, 2000. Subsidiary of ALLETE (legally incorporated as Minnesota Power, Inc.). Subsidiary of RendField Land Company, Inc. Formed effective August 18, 2000, Lakeview Financial Partners LLP. Formed effective February 29, 2000. ALLETE has a 50 percent equity ownership. Subsidiary of Minnesota Power Enterprises, Inc. Synertec, Incorporated has a 24.33 percent equity ownership in NaturTek LLC formed effective January 28, 2000. Subsidiary of Upper Minnesota Properties, Inc. Upper Minnesota Properties-Meadowlands, Inc. is a 99.5 percent partner in Meadowlands Affordable Housing Limited Partnership. Upper Minnesota Properties-Development, Inc. is a 50 percent partner in Blackwater Properties, LLP. Subsidiary of ALLETE Water Services, Inc. Heater Utilities, Inc. is, at the request of the North Carolina Utilities Commission, the emergency operator of Mobile Hills Estates and Pine Country Estates. Both are small water utilities in North Carolina. Subsidiary of Heater Utilities, Inc. Subsidiary of Instrumentation Services, Inc. Incorporated effective June 26, 2000. Incorporated effective June 2000. ALLETE Properties, Inc. owns 80 percent of Lehigh Acquisition Corporation. Subsidiary of ALLETE Properties, Inc. Subsidiary of Lehigh Acquisition Corporation. Effective August 31, 2000 Lehigh Corporation, Palm Coast Holdings, Inc. and Sugarmill Woods Communities, Inc. were merged into Lehigh Corporation. Lehigh Corporation was renamed Florida Landmark Communities, Inc. Subsequently, Lehigh Corporation, Palm Coast Holdings, Inc. and Sugarmill Woods Communities, Inc. were incorporated. Subsidiary of Florida Landmark Communities, Inc. ALLETE Automotive Services, Inc. owns 90 percent of AutoVIN, Inc. Subsidiary of ALLETE Automotive Services, Inc. ADESA Corporation owns 95 percent of Great Rigs Incorporated, 80 percent of ADESA Southern Indiana, Inc., 51 percent of A&H, LLC, 95 percent of ADESA South Florida, LLC and 67 percent of ADESA Canada Inc. Effective June 20, 2000 ADESA Corporation purchased Auction Finance Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries as noted. Subsidiary of ADESA Corporation. Incorporated effective August 11, 2000. ADESA Ark-La-Tex, Inc. owns 100 percent of ADESA Ark-La-Tex, LLC which is the auction business in Shreveport, LA. Incorporated effective October 7, 2000. Incorporated effective August 15, 2000. Incorporated effective August 22, 2000. Incorporated effective November 8, 2000. -6- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Formerly ADESA St. Louis, Inc. Incorporated effective August 10, 2000. Incorporated effective August 14, 2000. ADESA Corporation purchased 51 percent of A&H, LLC effective August 31, 2000. Formerly A.D.E. of Jacksonville, Inc. ADESA Florida, Inc. owns 5 percent of ADESA South Florida, LLC. Subsidiary of ADESA Florida, Inc. ADESA Indianapolis, Inc. owns 5 percent of Great Rigs Incorporated. Subsidiary of Automotive Finance Corporation. Incorporated effective December 14, 2000. Effective January 18, 2001 ADESA Corporation purchased ComSearch, Inc. Incorporated effective December 13, 2000. Subsidiary of ADESA Properties, Inc. PAR, Inc. owns 20 percent of EndTrust Lease End Services, LLC. ADESA Finance Canada Inc. owns 33 percent of ADESA Canada Inc. ADESA Canada Inc. owned 20 percent of Impact Auto Auctions Ltd. until 1109597 Ontario Inc. was amalgamated into Impact Auto Auctions Ltd. on January 1, 2001. Effective May 31, 2000 ADESA Canada Inc. purchased the remaining 27 percent of Impact Auto Auctions Ltd., its subsidiaries and Suburban Auto Parts Inc. Effective January 1, 2001, 67 percent of ADESA Canada Inc. was transferred from 3048538 Nova Scotia Company and 3048540 Nova Scotia Company to ADESA Automotive Services LP. Subsidiary of ADESA Canada Inc. Subsidiary of Impact Auto Auctions Ltd. On January 2, 2001 noted subsidiaries were amalgamated to form ADESA Auctions Canada Corporation. Subsidiary of ADESA Auctions Canada Corporation. 1109597 Ontario Inc. owned 80 percent of Impact Auto Auctions Ltd. until it was amalgamated into Impact Auto Auctions Ltd. on January 1, 2001. On January 1, 2001 noted subsidiaries were amalgamated to form Impact Auto Auctions Ltd. Impact Auto Auctions Ltd. owns 50 percent of Sudbury Auto Auction Ltd. Effective January 2, 2001 Auction Finance Group Ltd. was merged into ADESA Auctions Canada Corporation. 115763 Ontario Inc. exported out of Ontario and continued into Nova Scotia as 3050597 Nova Scotia Limited and was subsequently part of the amalgamation on January 2, 2001 to form ADESA Auctions Canada Corporation. Formed effective December 2000. 3048540 Nova Scotia Company and 3048538 Nova Scotia Company own 99 percent and 1 percent, respectively, of ADESA Automotive Services LP.
-7- 2. A brief description of the properties of claimant and each of its subsidiary public utility companies used for the generation, transmission, and distribution of electric energy for sale, or for the production, transmission, and distribution of natural or manufactured gas, indicating the location of principal generating plants, transmission lines, producing fields, gas manufacturing plants, and electric and gas distribution facilities, including all such properties which are outside the State in which claimant and its subsidiaries are organized and all transmission or pipelines which deliver or receive electric energy or gas at the borders of such State. CLAIMANT - ALLETE (legally incorporated as Minnesota Power, Inc.) Reference is made to Annual Report Form 10-K (File No. 1-3548), filed by the claimant with the Commission on or about February 6, 2001, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000, particularly pages 24 through 25, which is hereby incorporated by reference in this statement. SUBSIDIARY - Superior Water, Light and Power Company Same reference as under claimant. 3. The following information for the last calendar year with respect to claimant and each of its subsidiary public utility companies: (a) Number of kWh of electric energy sold (at retail or wholesale), and Mcf. of natural or manufactured gas distributed at retail. ELECTRICITY GAS Minnesota Power, Inc. 11,741,063,409 None Superior Water, Light and Power Company 550,996,649 2,302,611 (b) Number of kWh of electric energy and Mcf. of natural or manufactured gas distributed at retail outside the State in which each such company is organized. None (c) Number of kWh of electric energy and Mcf. of natural or manufactured gas sold at wholesale outside the State in which each such company is organized, or at the State line. ELECTRICITY GAS Minnesota Power, Inc. 959,319 None Superior Water, Light and Power Company None None (d) Number of kWh of electric energy and Mcf. of natural or manufactured gas purchased outside the State in which each company is organized or at the State line. ELECTRICITY GAS Minnesota Power, Inc. 1,457,026 None Superior Water, Light and Power Company 561,370,342 2,310,043 4. The following information for the reporting period with respect to claimant and each interest it holds directly or indirectly in an EWG or a foreign utility company, stating monetary amounts in United States dollars: Not applicable to Minnesota Power, Inc. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EXHIBITS [This EXHIBIT A contains confidential information which has been omitted, but filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.] -8- The above-named claimant has caused this statement to be duly executed on its behalf by its authorized officer on this 6th day of February 2001. ALLETE (legally incorporated as Minnesota Power, Inc.) -------------------------------------------------- (Name of Claimant) [CORPORATE SEAL] By D.G. Gartzke ----------------------------------------------- Senior Vice President - Finance and Chief Financial Officer Attest: Mark A. Schober ------------------------------- Controller Name, title and address of officer to whom notices and correspondence concerning this statement should be addressed: David G. Gartzke Senior Vice President - Finance and Chief Financial Officer ---------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- (Name) (Title) ALLETE (legally incorporated as Minnesota Power, Inc.) 30 West Superior Street Duluth, Minnesota 55802-2093 ---------------------------- (Address) -9-