FORM 4

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

    Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

OMB Number: 3235-0287
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Filed By Romeo & Dye's Instant Form 4 Filer
www.section16.net

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person*

Mayer George L.

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
ALLETE (ALE)

6. Relationship of Reporting Person(s)
to Issuer (Check all applicable)
X Director                                       10% Owner
    Officer (give title below)          Other (specify below)

(Last)      (First)     (Middle)

178 Myrtle Blvd., Suite 103
 

3. I.R.S. Identification Number
of Reporting Person,
if an entity (voluntary)

(Street)

Larchmont, NY 10538

(City)     (State)     (Zip)

Table I — Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1. Title of Security
(Instr. 3)

2. Trans-
action
Date
(Month/ Day/
Year)

2A. Deemed
Execution
Date,
if any
(Month/Day/
Year)

3. Trans-
action Code
(Instr. 8)

4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 & 5)

5. Amount of
Securities
Beneficially
Owned Follow-
ing Reported Transactions(s)
(Instr. 3 & 4)

6. Owner-
ship Form:
Direct (D)
or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)

7. Nature of Indirect
Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)

Code

V

Amount

(A)
or
(D)

Price

Common Stock

26542.229⁽¹⁾

D

Common Stock

500

I

By Spouse

Common Stock

300

I

Spouse as Conservator⁽²⁾

Common Stock

250

I

Trust⁽³⁾

Common Stock

400

I

Trust⁽⁴⁾

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security

(Instr. 3)

2. Conver-
sion or
Exercise
Price of Derivative Security

3. Trans-
action Date

(Month/
Day/
Year)

4. Trans-
action
Code

(Instr. 8)

5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)

(Instr. 3, 4 & 5)

6. Date Exercisable
and Expiration
Date
(Month/Day/
Year)

7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 & 4)

8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)

9. Number of
Derivative
Securities
Beneficially
Owned
Following
Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)

10. Owner-
ship Form
of Deriv-
ative
Security:
Direct (D)
or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exer-cisable

Expira-
tion
Date

Title

Amount or Number of
Shares

Stock Option (right to buy)

23.20

1/2/03

A

1500

see below⁽⁵⁾

1/2/13

Common Stock

1500

1500

D

Explanation of Responses:

(1) Includes shares acquired in exempt transactions under the dividend reinvestment feature of ALLETE's stock purchase and dividend reinvestment plan. This information is based on a plan statement as of December 31, 2002.
(2) By reporting person's spouse as conservator for family member in the same household as reporting person.
(3) By reporting person as trustee for George A. Mayer Charitable Remainder Trust.
(4) By reporting person as trustee for Mayer Charitable Annuity Trust.
(5) Option vests annually, 50% in 2004 and 50% in 2005.

**Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations.
See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).

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