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

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Filed By
Romeo and Dye's
Section 16 Filer
www.section16.net

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person*

Edwards Robert D.

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

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

Exec. VP; CEO Minnesota Power                     

(Last)      (First)     (Middle)

30 West Superior Street
 

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

(Street)

Duluth, MN 55802

(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

2/3/03

A

2642.09

A

57021.66⁽¹⁾

D

Common Stock

17960.55⁽²⁾

I

By RSOP Trust

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

Employee Stock Option - Right to Buy

20.51

2/3/03

A

33646

see below⁽³⁾

2/3/13

Common Stock

33646

33646

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, and is based on plan information available as of February 3, 2003.
(2) Includes shares acquired in exempt transactions under ALLETE's retirement savings and stock ownership plan, and is based on plan information available as of February 3, 2003.
(3) The 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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