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.
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ALE 3-31-2014 10-Q

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

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)
x
Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2014

or
 
¨
Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
For the transition period from ______________ to ______________

Commission File Number 1-3548

ALLETE, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Minnesota
 
41-0418150
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
 
(IRS Employer Identification No.)

30 West Superior Street
Duluth, Minnesota 55802-2093
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)

(218) 279-5000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.   x Yes   ¨ No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).   x Yes   ¨ No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large Accelerated Filer x
Accelerated Filer ¨
 
Non-Accelerated Filer ¨
Smaller Reporting Company ¨
 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  ¨ Yes   x No

Common Stock, without par value,
42,357,546 shares outstanding
as of March 31, 2014


Index
 
 
 
Page
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2014 and 2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2014 and 2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2014 and 2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

ALLETE First Quarter 2014 Form 10-Q
2

Definitions

The following abbreviations or acronyms are used in the text. References in this report to “we,” “us” and “our” are to ALLETE, Inc., and its subsidiaries, collectively.
Abbreviation or Acronym
Term
AC
Alternating Current
AFUDC
Allowance for Funds Used During Construction – the cost of both debt and equity funds used to finance utility plant additions during construction periods
ALLETE
ALLETE, Inc.
ALLETE Clean Energy
ALLETE Clean Energy, Inc.
ALLETE Properties
ALLETE Properties, LLC, and its subsidiaries
ATC
American Transmission Company LLC
Bison Wind Energy Center
Bison 1, 2 & 3 Wind Facilities
Bison 4
Bison 4 Wind Project
BNI Coal
BNI Coal, Ltd.
Boswell
Boswell Energy Center
CAIR
Clean Air Interstate Rule
CO2
Carbon Dioxide
Company
ALLETE, Inc., and its subsidiaries
CSAPR
Cross-State Air Pollution Rule
DC
Direct Current
EPA
Environmental Protection Agency
ESOP
Employee Stock Ownership Plan
FASB
Financial Accounting Standards Board
FERC
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Form 10-K
ALLETE Annual Report on Form 10-K
Form 10-Q
ALLETE Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
GAAP
United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
GHG
Greenhouse Gases
GNTL
Great Northern Transmission Line
IBEW
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
Invest Direct
ALLETE’s Direct Stock Purchase and Dividend Reinvestment Plan
Item ___
Item ___ of this Form 10-Q
kV
Kilovolt(s)
kWh
Kilowatt-hour
Laskin
Laskin Energy Center
LIBOR
London Interbank Offered Rate
MACT
Maximum Achievable Control Technology
Manitoba Hydro
Manitoba Hydro-Electric Board
MATS
Mercury and Air Toxics Standards
Minnesota Power
An operating division of ALLETE, Inc.
Minnkota Power
Minnkota Power Cooperative, Inc.
MISO
Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc.
MPCA
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
MPUC
Minnesota Public Utilities Commission
MW / MWh
Megawatt(s) / Megawatt-hour(s)
NAAQS
National Ambient Air Quality Standards

ALLETE First Quarter 2014 Form 10-Q
3

Abbreviation or Acronym
Term
NDPSC
North Dakota Public Service Commission
NOL
Net Operating Loss
Non-residential
Retail commercial, non-retail commercial, office, industrial, warehouse, storage and institutional
NO2
Nitrogen Dioxide
NOX
Nitrogen Oxides
Note ___
Note ___ to the consolidated financial statements in this Form 10-Q
NPDES
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
Oliver Wind I
Oliver Wind I Energy Center
Oliver Wind II
Oliver Wind II Energy Center
Palm Coast Park
Palm Coast Park development project in Florida
Palm Coast Park District
Palm Coast Park Community Development District
PolyMet
PolyMet Mining Corporation
PPA
Power Purchase Agreement
PPACA
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010
PSCW
Public Service Commission of Wisconsin
Rainy River Energy
Rainy River Energy Corporation - Wisconsin
SEC
Securities and Exchange Commission
SIP
State Implementation Plan
SO2
Sulfur Dioxide
Square Butte
Square Butte Electric Cooperative
SWL&P
Superior Water, Light and Power Company
Taconite Harbor
Taconite Harbor Energy Center
Town Center
Town Center at Palm Coast development project in Florida
Town Center District
Town Center at Palm Coast Community Development District
U.S.
United States of America
USS Corporation
United States Steel Corporation



ALLETE First Quarter 2014 Form 10-Q
4

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this report that are not statements of historical facts are considered “forward-looking” and, accordingly, involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed. Although such forward-looking statements have been made in good faith and are based on reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that the expected results will be achieved. Any statements that express, or involve discussions as to, future expectations, risks, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, events, uncertainties, financial performance, or growth strategies (often, but not always, through the use of words or phrases such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “projects,” “likely,” “will continue,” “could,” “may,” “potential,” “target,” “outlook” or words of similar meaning) are not statements of historical facts and may be forward-looking.

In connection with the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, we are providing this cautionary statement to identify important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated in forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of ALLETE in this Form 10-Q, in presentations, on our website, in response to questions or otherwise. These statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to, and are accompanied by, the following important factors, in addition to any assumptions and other factors referred to specifically in connection with such forward-looking statements that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements:

•
our ability to successfully implement our strategic objectives;
•
global and domestic economic conditions affecting us or our customers;
•
wholesale power market conditions;
•
federal and state regulatory and legislative actions that impact regulated utility economics, including our allowed rates of return, capital structure, ability to secure financing, industry and rate structure, acquisition and disposal of assets and facilities, operation and construction of plant facilities and utility infrastructure, recovery of purchased power, capital investments and other expenses, including present or prospective environmental matters;
•
changes in and compliance with laws and regulations;
•
effects of competition, including competition for retail and wholesale customers;
•
effects of restructuring initiatives in the electric industry;
•
changes in tax rates or policies or in rates of inflation;
•
the impacts on our Regulated Operations of climate change and future regulation to restrict the emissions of GHG;
•
the impacts of laws and regulations related to renewable and distributed generation;
•
the outcome of legal and administrative proceedings (whether civil or criminal) and settlements;
•
weather conditions, natural disasters and pandemic diseases;
•
our ability to access capital markets and bank financing;
•
changes in interest rates and the performance of the financial markets;
•
project delays or changes in project costs;
•
availability and management of construction materials and skilled construction labor for capital projects;
•
changes in operating expenses and capital expenditures and our ability to recover these costs;
•
pricing, availability and transportation of fuel and other commodities and the ability to recover the costs of such commodities;
•
our ability to replace a mature workforce and retain qualified, skilled and experienced personnel;
•
effects of emerging technology;
•
war, acts of terrorism and cyber attacks;
•
our ability to manage expansion and integrate acquisitions;
•
our current and potential industrial and municipal customers’ ability to execute announced expansion plans;
•
population growth rates and demographic patterns; and
•
zoning and permitting of land held for resale, real estate development or changes in the real estate market.

Additional disclosures regarding factors that could cause our results or performance to differ from those anticipated by this report are discussed in Item 1A under the heading “Risk Factors” beginning on page 28 of our 2013 Form 10-K. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which that statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for management to predict all of these factors, nor can we assess the impact of each of these factors on our businesses or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Readers are urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures made by us in this Form 10-Q and in our other reports filed with the SEC that attempt to identify the risks and uncertainties that may affect our business.

ALLETE First Quarter 2014 Form 10-Q
5

PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
ALLETE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
Millions – Unaudited
 
March 31,
2014
 
December 31,
2013
 
 
 
 
Assets
 
 
 
Current Assets
 
 
 
Cash and Cash Equivalents

$44.6

 

$97.3

Accounts Receivable (Less Allowance of $1.0 and $1.1)
97.4

 
96.3

Inventories
68.9

 
59.3

Prepayments and Other
33.4

 
35.1

Deferred Income Taxes
25.1

 
19.0

Total Current Assets
269.4

 
307.0

Property, Plant and Equipment - Net
2,905.1

 
2,576.5

Regulatory Assets
267.0

 
263.8

Investment in ATC
116.6

 
114.6

Other Investments
116.4

 
146.3

Other Non-Current Assets
74.7

 
68.6

Total Assets

$3,749.2

 

$3,476.8

Liabilities and Equity
 
 
 
Liabilities
 
 
 
Current Liabilities
 
 
 
Accounts Payable

$78.1

 

$99.9

Accrued Taxes
42.9

 
34.8

Accrued Interest
15.2

 
15.7

Long-Term Debt Due Within One Year
11.1

 
27.2

Other
61.2

 
52.6

Total Current Liabilities
208.5

 
230.2

Long-Term Debt
1,202.5

 
1,083.0

Deferred Income Taxes
494.4

 
479.1

Regulatory Liabilities
89.9

 
81.0

Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
117.2

 
133.4

Other Non-Current Liabilities
229.3

 
127.2

Total Liabilities
2,341.8

 
2,133.9

Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies (Note 15)

 

Equity
 
 
 
ALLETE’s Equity
 
 
 
Common Stock Without Par Value, 80.0 Shares Authorized, 42.4 and 41.4 Shares Outstanding
930.4

 
885.2

Unearned ESOP Shares
(12.5
)
 
(14.3
)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
(16.8
)
 
(17.1
)
Retained Earnings
501.4

 
489.1

Total ALLETE Equity
1,402.5

 
1,342.9

Non-Controlling Interest in Subsidiaries
4.9

 
—

Total Equity
1,407.4

 
1,342.9

Total Liabilities and Equity

$3,749.2

 

$3,476.8

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

ALLETE First Quarter 2014 Form 10-Q
6

ALLETE
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME
Millions Except Per Share Amounts – Unaudited
 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31,
 
2014
2013
 
 
 
Operating Revenue

$296.5


$263.8

Operating Expenses
 
 
Fuel and Purchased Power
96.2

86.5

Operating and Maintenance
119.8

104.7

Depreciation
32.2

28.2

Total Operating Expenses
248.2

219.4

Operating Income
48.3

44.4

Other Income (Expense)
 
 
Interest Expense
(12.8
)
(12.3
)
Equity Earnings in ATC
5.1

5.2

Other
2.0

2.7

Total Other Expense
(5.7
)
(4.4
)
Income Before Non-Controlling Interest and Income Taxes
42.6

40.0

Income Tax Expense
8.8

7.5

Net Income
33.8

32.5

Less: Non-Controlling Interest in Subsidiaries
0.3

—

Net Income Attributable to ALLETE

$33.5


$32.5

Average Shares of Common Stock
 
 
Basic
41.4

38.9

Diluted
41.6

39.0

Basic Earnings Per Share of Common Stock

$0.81


$0.83

Diluted Earnings Per Share of Common Stock

$0.80


$0.83

Dividends Per Share of Common Stock

$0.49


$0.475

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

ALLETE First Quarter 2014 Form 10-Q
7

ALLETE
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Millions – Unaudited


 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
March 31,
Comprehensive Income
 
2014
 
2013
Millions
 
 
 
 
Net Income
 

$33.8

 

$32.5

Other Comprehensive Income
 
 
 
 
Unrealized Gain on Derivatives
 


 


Net of Income Taxes of $0.1 and $–
 
—

 
0.1

Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
 
 
 
 
 Net of Income Taxes of $0.2 and $0.2
 
0.3

 
0.3

Total Other Comprehensive Income
 
0.3

 
0.4

Total Comprehensive Income
 

$34.1

 

$32.9

Less: Non-Controlling Interest in Subsidiaries
 
0.3

 
—

Comprehensive Income Attributable to ALLETE
 

$33.8

 

$32.9

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.


ALLETE First Quarter 2014 Form 10-Q
8

ALLETE
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
Millions – Unaudited

 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31,
 
2014
 
2013
 
 
 
 
Operating Activities
 
 
 
Net Income

$33.8

 

$32.5

Allowance for Funds Used During Construction – Equity
(1.8
)
 
(1.1
)
Income from Equity Investments, Net of Dividends
(0.8
)
 
(1.3
)
Gains on Sale of Assets / Investments
—

 
(1.0
)
Depreciation Expense
32.2

 
28.2

Amortization of Debt Issuance Costs
0.3

 
0.3

Deferred Income Tax Expense
8.8

 
7.3

Share-Based Compensation Expense
0.8

 
0.6

ESOP Compensation Expense
2.2

 
2.0

Defined Benefit Pension and Postretirement Benefit Expense
3.2

 
5.6

Bad Debt Expense
0.2

 
0.1

Changes in Operating Assets and Liabilities
 
 
 
Accounts Receivable
2.9

 
2.7

Inventories
(6.5
)
 
5.5

Prepayments and Other
2.2

 
5.5

Accounts Payable
0.1

 
(11.0
)
Other Current Liabilities
1.6

 
(0.7
)
Cash Contributions to Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
—

 
(10.8
)
Changes in Regulatory and Other Non-Current Assets
(4.0
)
 
(1.9
)
Changes in Regulatory and Other Non-Current Liabilities
(0.3
)
 
(4.3
)
Cash from Operating Activities
74.9

 
58.2

Investing Activities
 
 
 
Proceeds from Sale of Available-for-sale Securities
0.6

 
7.9

Payments for Purchase of Available-for-sale Securities
(0.7
)
 
(1.2
)
Investment in ATC
(1.2
)
 
(0.4
)
Changes to Other Investments
30.0

 
(1.0
)
Additions to Property, Plant and Equipment
(216.2
)
 
(69.8
)
Acquisition – Net of Cash Acquired
(23.1
)
 
—

Changes in Restricted Cash
6.0

 
—

Proceeds from Sale of Assets
—

 
0.6

Cash for Investing Activities
(204.6
)
 
(63.9
)
Financing Activities
 
 
 
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock
24.8

 
23.4

Proceeds from Issuance of Long-Term Debt
100.0

 
—

Reductions of Long-Term Debt
(19.8
)
 
(1.7
)
Debt Issuance Costs
(0.9
)
 
—

Acquisition of Non-Controlling Interest
(6.0
)
 
—

Dividends on Common Stock
(21.1
)
 
(19.5
)
Cash from Financing Activities
77.0

 
2.2

Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents
(52.7
)
 
(3.5
)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period
97.3

 
80.8

Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period

$44.6

 

$77.3

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

ALLETE First Quarter 2014 Form 10-Q
9


NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X and do not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. Similarly, the December 31, 2013, Consolidated Balance Sheet was derived from audited financial statements but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP. All adjustments are of a normal, recurring nature, except as otherwise disclosed. Operating results for the period ended March 31, 2014, are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for any other interim period or for the year ending December 31, 2014. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and notes included in our 2013 Form 10-K.


NOTE 1.  OPERATIONS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Inventories. Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Amounts removed from inventory are recorded on an average cost basis.
Inventories
March 31,
2014

 
December 31,
2013

Millions
 
 
 
Fuel

$16.3

 

$13.1

Materials and Supplies
52.6

 
46.2

Total Inventories

$68.9

 

$59.3


Prepayments and Other Current Assets
March 31,
2014

 
December 31,
2013

Millions
 
 
 
Deferred Fuel Adjustment Clause

$22.1

 

$23.0

Other
11.3

 
12.1

Total Prepayments and Other Current Assets

$33.4

 

$35.1


Other Non-Current Assets. As of March 31, 2014, included in Other Non-Current Assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheet was restricted cash of $5.3 million related to ALLETE Clean Energy’s wind energy facilities acquisition, which was completed on January 30, 2014 (see Note 4. Acquisitions). As of December 31, 2013, restricted cash of $5.4 million related to cash held in escrow pending the closing of the acquisition.

Other Current Liabilities
March 31,
2014

 
December 31,
2013

Millions
 
 
 
Customer Deposits

$24.1

 

$26.0

Power Purchase Agreements (a)
13.1

 
—

Other
24.0

 
26.6

Total Other Current Liabilities

$61.2

 

$52.6

(a)
Power Purchase Agreements were acquired in conjunction with the ALLETE Clean Energy wind energy facilities acquisition on January 30, 2014 (see Note 4. Acquisitions).

ALLETE First Quarter 2014 Form 10-Q
10

NOTE 1.  OPERATIONS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

Other Non-Current Liabilities
March 31,
2014

 
December 31,
2013

Millions
 
 
 
Asset Retirement Obligation

$89.2

 

$81.8

Power Purchase Agreements (a)
96.4

 
—

Other
43.7

 
45.4

Total Other Non-Current Liabilities

$229.3

 

$127.2

(a)
Power Purchase Agreements were acquired in conjunction with the ALLETE Clean Energy wind energy facilities acquisition on January 30, 2014 (see Note 4. Acquisitions).


Supplemental Statement of Cash Flows Information.
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
2014

 
2013

Millions
 
 
 
Cash Paid During the Period for Interest – Net of Amounts Capitalized

$12.4

 

$12.0

Cash Paid During the Period for Income Taxes

$0.2

 

$0.5

Noncash Investing and Financing Activities
 

 
 

Decrease in Accounts Payable for Capital Additions to Property, Plant and Equipment
$(22.6)
 
$(26.2)
Capitalized Asset Retirement Costs

$0.6

 

$1.9

AFUDC – Equity

$1.8

 

$1.1

ALLETE Common Stock Contributed to the Pension Plan

$19.5

 
—


Subsequent Events. The Company performed an evaluation of subsequent events for potential recognition and disclosure through the time of the financial statements issuance.

New Accounting Standards.

Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists. In July 2013, the FASB issued an accounting standard update on the financial statement presentation of unrecognized tax benefits when an NOL carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward exists. An unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit, should be presented in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for an NOL carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward. To the extent an NOL carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward is not available at the reporting date to settle any additional income taxes that would result from the disallowance of a tax position or the tax law does not require the entity to use, and the entity does not intend to use, the deferred tax asset for such purpose, the unrecognized tax benefit should be presented in the financial statements as a liability and should not be combined with deferred tax assets. This guidance was adopted beginning with the quarter ending March 31, 2014, and did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity. In April 2014, the FASB issued an accounting standard update modifying the criteria for determining which disposals should be presented as discontinued operations and modifying the related disclosure requirements. Additionally, the new guidance requires that a business which qualifies as held for sale upon acquisition should be reported as discontinued operations. The new guidance will be effective beginning with the quarter ending March 31, 2015, and applies prospectively to new disposals and new classifications of disposal groups as held for sale after the effective date. This guidance is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.



ALLETE First Quarter 2014 Form 10-Q
11

NOTE 2.  BUSINESS SEGMENTS

Regulated Operations includes our regulated utilities, Minnesota Power and SWL&P, as well as our investment in ATC, a Wisconsin-based regulated utility that owns and maintains electric transmission assets in parts of Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota and Illinois. Investments and Other is comprised primarily of BNI Coal, our coal mining operations in North Dakota, ALLETE Properties, our Florida real estate investment, and ALLETE Clean Energy, our business which acquired three wind energy facilities in January 2014, and is aimed at developing or acquiring capital projects that create energy solutions via wind, solar, biomass, midstream gas and oil infrastructure, among other energy-related projects. This segment also includes other business development and corporate expenditures, unallocated interest expense, a small amount of non-rate base generation, approximately 5,000 acres of land in Minnesota, and earnings on cash and investments.

 
Consolidated
Regulated Operations
Investments and Other
Millions
 
 
 
For the Quarter Ended March 31, 2014
 
 
 
Operating Revenue

$296.5


$264.2


$32.3

Fuel and Purchased Power Expense
96.2

96.2

—

Operating and Maintenance Expense
119.8

90.2

29.6

Depreciation Expense
32.2

28.8

3.4

Operating Income (Loss)
48.3

49.0

(0.7
)
Interest Expense
(12.8
)
(11.5
)
(1.3
)
Equity Earnings in ATC
5.1

5.1

—

Other Income
2.0

1.8

0.2

Income (Loss) Before Non-Controlling Interest and Income Taxes
42.6

44.4

(1.8
)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)
8.8

10.5

(1.7
)
Net Income (Loss)
33.8

33.9

(0.1
)
Less: Non-Controlling Interest in Subsidiaries
0.3

—

0.3

Net Income (Loss) Attributable to ALLETE

$33.5


$33.9

$(0.4)
 
 
 
 
As of March 31, 2014
 
 
 
Total Assets

$3,749.2


$3,335.5


$413.7

Property, Plant and Equipment – Net

$2,905.1


$2,671.3


$233.8

Accumulated Depreciation

$1,266.7


$1,202.9


$63.8

Capital Additions

$195.2


$193.5


$1.7



ALLETE First Quarter 2014 Form 10-Q
12

NOTE 2.  BUSINESS SEGMENTS (Continued)

 
Consolidated
Regulated Operations
Investments and Other
Millions
 
 
 
For the Quarter Ended March 31, 2013
 
 
 
Operating Revenue

$263.8


$241.4


$22.4

Fuel and Purchased Power Expense
86.5

86.5

—

Operating and Maintenance Expense
104.7

82.2

22.5

Depreciation Expense
28.2

26.8

1.4

Operating Income (Loss)
44.4

45.9

(1.5
)
Interest Expense
(12.3
)
(10.7
)
(1.6
)
Equity Earnings in ATC
5.2

5.2

—

Other Income
2.7

1.1

1.6

Income (Loss) Before Non-Controlling Interest and Income Taxes
40.0

41.5

(1.5
)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)
7.5

9.4

(1.9
)
Net Income
32.5

32.1

0.4

Less: Non-Controlling Interest in Subsidiaries
—

—

—

Net Income Attributable to ALLETE

$32.5


$32.1


$0.4

 
 
 
 
As of March 31, 2013
 

 

 

Total Assets

$3,251.3


$2,967.9


$283.4

Property, Plant and Equipment – Net

$2,366.7


$2,300.8


$65.9

Accumulated Depreciation

$1,179.8


$1,121.8


$58.0

Capital Additions

$43.1


$42.6


$0.5



NOTE 3.  INVESTMENTS

Investments. At March 31, 2014, our long-term investment portfolio included the real estate assets of ALLETE Properties, debt and equity securities consisting primarily of securities held in other postretirement plans to fund employee benefits, the cash equivalents within these plans, and other assets consisting primarily of land in Minnesota.

Other Investments
March 31,
2014

 
December 31,
2013

Millions
 
 
 
ALLETE Properties

$90.1

 

$89.9

Available-for-sale Securities (a)
19.8

 
17.7

Cash Equivalents (b)
3.9

 
34.2

Other
2.6

 
4.5

Total Other Investments

$116.4

 

$146.3

(a)
As of March 31, 2014, the aggregate amount of available-for-sale corporate debt securities maturing in one year or less was $0.4 million, in one year to less than three years was $4.0 million, in three years to less than five years was $1.3 million, and in five or more years was $4.3 million.
(b)
During the quarter ended March 31, 2014, cash included in Other Investments was transferred to Cash and Cash Equivalents.



ALLETE First Quarter 2014 Form 10-Q
13

NOTE 3.  INVESTMENTS (Continued)

ALLETE Properties
March 31,
2014

 
December 31,
2013

Millions
 
 
 
Land Inventory Beginning Balance

$85.4

 

$86.5

Cost of Sales
—

 
(1.5
)
Other
0.2

 
0.4

Land Inventory Ending Balance
85.6

 
85.4

Long-Term Finance Receivables (net of allowances of $0.6 and $0.6)
1.4

 
1.4

Other
3.1

 
3.1

Total Real Estate Assets

$90.1

 

$89.9


Land Inventory. Land inventory is accounted for as held for use and is recorded at cost, unless the carrying value is determined not to be recoverable in accordance with the accounting standards for property, plant and equipment, in which case the land inventory is written down to fair value. Land values are reviewed for impairment on a quarterly basis and no impairments were recorded for the quarter ended March 31, 2014 (none for the year ended December 31, 2013).

Long-Term Finance Receivables. As of March 31, 2014, long-term finance receivables were $1.4 million net of allowance ($1.4 million net of allowance as of December 31, 2013). Long-term finance receivables are collateralized by property sold, accrue interest at market-based rates and are net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. As of March 31, 2014, we had an allowance for doubtful accounts of $0.6 million ($0.6 million as of December 31, 2013).


NOTE 4.  ACQUISITIONS

On January 30, 2014, ALLETE Clean Energy acquired wind energy facilities located in Lake Benton, Minnesota (Lake Benton), Storm Lake, Iowa (Storm Lake) and Condon, Oregon (Condon) from The AES Corporation (AES) for $26.9 million, subject to a working capital adjustment. ALLETE Clean Energy also has an option to acquire a fourth wind energy facility from AES in Armenia Mountain, Pennsylvania (Armenia Mountain), in June 2015. The acquisition supports ALLETE’s strategy to pursue energy-centric initiatives through ALLETE Clean Energy that include less carbon intensive and more sustainable energy sources.

Lake Benton, Storm Lake and Condon have 104 MW, 77 MW and 50 MW of generating capability, respectively. Lake Benton and Storm Lake began commercial operations in 1998, while Condon began operations in 2002. All three wind energy facilities have PPAs in place for their entire output, which expire in various years between 2019 and 2032 (see Note 15. Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies). Pursuant to the acquisition agreement, ALLETE Clean Energy has an option to acquire the 101 MW Armenia Mountain wind energy facility in June 2015. Armenia Mountain began operations in 2009.

ALLETE Clean Energy acquired a controlling interest in the limited liability company (LLC) which owns Lake Benton and Storm Lake, and a controlling interest in the LLC that owns Condon. The acquisition was accounted for as a business combination and the purchase price was allocated based on the preliminary estimated fair values of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition, as shown in the table below. The allocation of the purchase price is subject to judgment and the preliminary estimated fair value of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed may be adjusted when the valuation analysis is completed in subsequent periods. Preliminary estimates subject to adjustment in subsequent periods relate primarily to property, plant and equipment, PPAs and non-controlling interest; subsequent adjustments could impact the amount of goodwill recorded or result in a bargain purchase. Fair value measurements were valued primarily using the discounted cash flow method.


ALLETE First Quarter 2014 Form 10-Q
14

NOTE 4.  ACQUISITIONS (Continued)

Millions
 
Assets Acquired
 
Cash and Cash Equivalents

$3.8

Other Current Assets
12.4

Property, Plant and Equipment – Net
161.2

Other Non-Current Assets (a)
8.1

Total Assets Acquired

$185.5

Liabilities Assumed
 
Other Current Liabilities (b)

$15.2

Long-Term Debt Due Within One Year
2.2

Long-Term Debt
21.1

Power Purchase Agreements
99.4

Other Non-Current Liabilities
10.1

Non-Controlling Interest (c)
10.6

Total Liabilities and Non-Controlling Interest Assumed
158.6

Net Identifiable Assets Acquired

$26.9

(a)
Included in Other Non-Current Assets was the fair value estimate of $0.3 million for the option to purchase Armenia Mountain in 2015, and preliminary goodwill of $1.9 million; for tax purposes, the purchase price allocation resulted in no allocation to goodwill.
(b)
Other Current Liabilities included $12.4 million related to the current liabilities portion of the Power Purchase Agreements.
(c)
The preliminary purchase price accounting valued the non-controlling interest of Lake Benton, Storm Lake and Condon at fair value primarily on the discounted cash flow method. The non-controlling interest related to Lake Benton and Storm lake was subsequently purchased by ALLETE Clean Energy.

ALLETE Clean Energy incurred $1.4 million after-tax of acquisition-related costs during the quarter ended March 31, 2014, which were expensed when incurred and were recorded in Other Expenses on the Consolidated Statement of Income. The results of operations of this business from its acquisition date are included in the Investments and Other segment. The pro forma impact of this acquisition was not significant to the results of the Company for the three months ended March 31, 2014 or March 31, 2013.

On February 11, 2014, ALLETE Clean Energy purchased the non-controlling interest related to Lake Benton and Storm Lake for $6.0 million. This was accounted for as an equity transaction, and no gain or loss was recognized in net income or other comprehensive income.


NOTE 5. DERIVATIVES

We have two variable-to-fixed interest rate swaps (Swaps), designated as cash flow hedges, in order to manage the interest rate risk associated with a $75.0 million Term Loan which represents approximately 6 percent of the Company’s outstanding long-term debt as of March 31, 2014. (See Note 9. Short-Term and Long-Term Debt.) The Swaps have effective dates of August 25, 2011, and August 26, 2014, and mature on August 25, 2014 and 2015, respectively. The Swaps involve the receipt of the one-month LIBOR in exchange for fixed interest payments over the life of the agreements at 0.825 percent and 0.75 percent without an exchange of the underlying notional amount. Cash flows from the Swaps are expected to be highly effective. If it is determined the Swaps cease to be effective, we will prospectively discontinue hedge accounting. When applicable, we use the shortcut method to assess hedge effectiveness. If the shortcut method is not applicable, we assess effectiveness using the “change-in-variable-cash-flows” method. Our assessments of hedge effectiveness resulted in no ineffectiveness recorded for the quarter ended March 31, 2014. As of March 31, 2014, the fair value of the Swaps was a $0.5 million liability ($0.6 million liability as of December 31, 2013) of which $0.3 million ($0.3 million as of December 31, 2013) was included in Other Non-Current Liabilities and $0.2 million ($0.3 million as of December 31, 2013) was included in Other Current Liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Changes in the fair value of the Swaps were recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Cash flows from the Swaps are presented in the same category as the hedged item on the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. Amounts recorded in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) related to the Swaps will be recorded in earnings when the hedged transactions occur or when it is probable they will not occur. Gains or losses on the interest rate hedging transactions are reflected as a component of interest expense on the Consolidated Statement of Income.

ALLETE First Quarter 2014 Form 10-Q
15

NOTE 6. FAIR VALUE

Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (exit price). We utilize market data or assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk and the risks inherent in the inputs to the valuation technique. These inputs can be readily observable, market corroborated or generally unobservable. We primarily apply the market approach for recurring fair value measurements and endeavor to utilize the best available information. Accordingly, we utilize valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. These inputs, which are used to measure fair value, are prioritized through the fair value hierarchy. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurement) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurement). Descriptions of the three levels of the fair value hierarchy are discussed in Note 10. Fair Value to the consolidated financial statements in our 2013 Form 10-K.

The following tables set forth by level within the fair value hierarchy our assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2014, and December 31, 2013. Each asset and liability is classified based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Our assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment and may affect the valuation of these assets and liabilities and their placement within the fair value hierarchy levels. The estimated fair value of cash and cash equivalents listed on the Consolidated Balance Sheet approximates the carrying amount and therefore is excluded from the recurring fair value measures in the tables below.

 
Fair Value as of March 31, 2014
Recurring Fair Value Measures
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
Millions
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investments (a)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale – Equity Securities

$9.8

 
—

 
—

 

$9.8

Available-for-sale – Corporate Debt Securities
—

 

$10.0

 
—

 
10.0

Cash Equivalents
3.9

 
—

 
—

 
3.9

Total Fair Value of Assets

$13.7

 

$10.0

 
—

 

$23.7

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deferred Compensation (b)
—

 

$18.7

 
—

 

$18.7

Derivatives – Interest Rate Swap (c)
—

 
0.5

 
—

 
0.5

Total Fair Value of Liabilities
—

 

$19.2

 
—

 

$19.2

Total Net Fair Value of Assets (Liabilities)

$13.7

 
$(9.2)
 
—

 

$4.5

(a)
Included in Other Investments on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.
(b)
Included in Other Non-Current Liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.
(c)
Included in Current Liabilities - Other and Other Non-Current Liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.


ALLETE First Quarter 2014 Form 10-Q
16

NOTE 6. FAIR VALUE (Continued)

 
Fair Value as of December 31, 2013
Recurring Fair Value Measures
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
Millions
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investments (a)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale – Equity Securities

$7.9

 
—

 
—

 

$7.9

Available-for-sale – Corporate Debt Securities
—

 

$9.8

 
—

 
9.8

Cash Equivalents
34.2

 
—

 
—

 
34.2

Total Fair Value of Assets

$42.1

 

$9.8

 
—

 

$51.9

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deferred Compensation (b)
—

 

$16.8

 
—

 

$16.8

Derivatives – Interest Rate Swap (c)
—

 
0.6

 
—

 
0.6

Total Fair Value of Liabilities
—

 

$17.4

 
—

 

$17.4

Total Net Fair Value of Assets (Liabilities)

$42.1

 
$(7.6)
 
—

 

$34.5

(a)
Included in Other Investments on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.
(b)
Included in Other Non-Current Liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.
(c)
Included in Current Liabilities - Other and Other Non-Current Liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

There was no activity in Level 3 during the quarters ended March 31, 2014 and 2013.

The Company’s policy is to recognize transfers in and transfers out of a given level as of the actual date of the event or of the change in circumstances that caused the transfer. For the quarters ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, there were no transfers in or out of Levels 1, 2 or 3.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments. With the exception of the item listed in the table below, the estimated fair value of all financial instruments approximates the carrying amount. The fair value for the item listed below was based on quoted market prices for the same or similar instruments (Level 2).

Financial Instruments
Carrying Amount
 
Fair Value
Millions
 
 
 
Long-Term Debt, Including Current Portion
 
 
 
March 31, 2014
$1,213.6
 
$1,282.9
December 31, 2013
$1,110.2
 
$1,131.7


NOTE 7.  REGULATORY MATTERS

Electric Rates. Entities within our Regulated Operations segment file for periodic rate revisions with the MPUC, the FERC or the PSCW.

2010 Minnesota Rate Case. Minnesota Power’s current retail rates are based on a 2011 MPUC retail rate order, effective June 1, 2011, that allows for a 10.38 percent return on common equity and a 54.29 percent equity ratio.


ALLETE First Quarter 2014 Form 10-Q
17

NOTE 7. REGULATORY MATTERS (Continued)

FERC-Approved Wholesale Rates. Minnesota Power’s non-affiliated municipal customers consist of 16 municipalities in Minnesota. SWL&P, a wholly-owned subsidiary of ALLETE, is a private utility in Wisconsin and also a customer of Minnesota Power. In April 2014, Minnesota Power amended its formula-based wholesale electric sales contract with the Nashwauk Public Utilities Commission, extending the term through June 30, 2026. The electric service agreements with the remaining 15 Minnesota municipal customers and SWL&P are effective through June 30, 2019. The rates included in these agreements are set each July 1 based on a cost-based formula methodology, using estimated costs and a rate of return that is equal to our authorized rate of return for Minnesota retail customers (currently 10.38 percent). The formula-based rate methodology also provides for a yearly true-up calculation for actual costs incurred. The contract terms include a termination clause requiring a three-year notice to terminate. Under the Nashwauk Public Utilities Commission agreement, no termination notice may be given prior to July 1, 2023. Under the agreements with the remaining 15 municipal customer and SWL&P, no termination notices may be given prior to June 30, 2016.

2012 Wisconsin Rate Case. SWL&P’s current retail rates are based on a 2012 PSCW retail rate order, effective January 1, 2013, that allows for a 10.9 percent return on common equity.

Transmission Cost Recovery Rider. Minnesota Power has an approved cost recovery rider in place for certain transmission investments and expenditures. On November 12, 2013, the MPUC approved Minnesota Power’s updated billing factor which allows Minnesota Power to charge retail customers on a current basis for the costs of constructing certain transmission facilities plus a return on the capital invested. We filed a petition on April 24, 2014, to include additional transmission investments and expenditures in customer billing rates.

Renewable Cost Recovery Rider. The Bison Wind Energy Center in North Dakota currently consists of 292 MW of nameplate capacity and was completed in various phases through 2012. Customer billing rates for our Bison Wind Energy Center were approved by the MPUC in an order dated December 3, 2013. On September 25, 2013, the NDPSC approved the site permit for construction of Bison 4, a 205 MW wind project in North Dakota, which is an addition to our Bison Wind Energy Center. As a result, construction has commenced and is expected to be completed by the end of 2014. The total project investment for Bison 4 is estimated to be approximately $345 million, of which $187.1 million was spent through March 31, 2014. On January 17, 2014, the MPUC approved Minnesota Power’s petition seeking cost recovery for investments and expenditures related to Bison 4. We included Bison 4 as part of our renewable resources rider factor filing along with the Company’s other renewable projects in a filing on April 29, 2014, which, upon approval, will authorize updated rates to be included on customer bills.

ALLETE Clean Energy. In August 2011, the Company filed with the MPUC for approval of certain affiliated interest agreements between ALLETE and ALLETE Clean Energy. These agreements relate to various relationships with ALLETE, including the accounting for certain shared services, as well as the transfer of transmission and wind development rights in North Dakota to ALLETE Clean Energy. These transmission and wind development rights are separate and distinct from those needed by Minnesota Power to meet Minnesota’s renewable energy standard requirements. In July 2012, the MPUC issued an order approving certain administrative items related to accounting for shared services and the transfer of meteorological towers, while deferring decisions related to transmission and wind development rights pending the MPUC’s further review of Minnesota Power’s future retail electric service needs.

Integrated Resource Plan. In an order dated November 12, 2013, the MPUC approved Minnesota Power’s 2013 Integrated Resource Plan which details our “EnergyForward” strategic plan and includes an analysis of a variety of existing and future energy resource alternatives and a projection of customer cost impact by class. Significant elements of the “EnergyForward” plan include major wind investments in North Dakota, installation of emissions control technology at Boswell Unit 4, planning for the proposed GNTL, conversion of Laskin from coal to cleaner-burning natural gas in 2015 and retiring Taconite Harbor Unit 3 in 2015.


ALLETE First Quarter 2014 Form 10-Q
18

NOTE 7. REGULATORY MATTERS (Continued)

Boswell Mercury Emissions Reduction Plan. Minnesota Power is implementing a mercury emissions reduction project for Boswell Unit 4 in order to comply with the Minnesota Mercury Emissions Reduction Act and the Federal MATS rule. In August 2012, Minnesota Power filed its mercury emissions reduction plan for Boswell Unit 4 with the MPUC and the MPCA. The plan proposes that Minnesota Power install pollution controls by early 2016 to address both the Minnesota mercury emissions reduction requirements and the Federal MATS rule. Costs to implement the Boswell Unit 4 mercury emissions reduction plan are included in the estimated capital expenditures required for compliance with the MATS rule and are estimated to be approximately $310 million. On November 5, 2013, the MPUC issued an order approving the Boswell Unit 4 mercury emissions reduction plan and cost recovery, establishing an environmental improvement rider. On November 25, 2013, environmental intervenors filed a petition for reconsideration with the MPUC which was subsequently denied in an order dated January 17, 2014. On December 20, 2013, Minnesota Power filed a petition with the MPUC to establish customer billing rates for the approved environmental improvement rider based on actual and estimated investments and expenditures, which is expected to be approved in mid-2014.

Great Northern Transmission Line (GNTL). Minnesota Power and Manitoba Hydro have proposed construction of the GNTL, an approximately 220-mile 500 kV transmission line between Manitoba and Minnesota’s Iron Range. The GNTL is subject to various federal and state regulatory approvals. On October 21, 2013, a Certificate of Need application was filed with the MPUC with respect to the GNTL. In an order dated January 8, 2014, the MPUC determined that the Certificate of Need application was complete and referred the docket to an administrative law judge for a contested case proceeding. On April 15, 2014, Minnesota Power filed a route permit application with the MPUC and a request for a presidential permit to cross the U.S.-Canadian border with the U.S. Department of Energy. Manitoba Hydro must also obtain regulatory and governmental approvals related to new transmission lines and hydroelectric generation development in Canada. Upon receipt of all applicable permits and approvals, construction is anticipated to begin in 2016, and to be completed in 2020. (See Note 15. Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies.)

Regulatory Assets and Liabilities. Our regulated utility operations are subject to the accounting guidance for Regulated Operations. We capitalize incurred costs which are probable of recovery in future utility rates as regulatory assets. Regulatory liabilities represent amounts expected to be refunded or credited to customers in rates. No regulatory assets or liabilities are currently earning a return. The recovery, refund or credit to rates for these regulatory assets and liabilities will occur over the periods either specified by the applicable commission or over the corresponding period related to the asset or liability.

ALLETE First Quarter 2014 Form 10-Q
19

NOTE 7. REGULATORY MATTERS (Continued)

Regulatory Assets and Liabilities
March 31,
2014

 
December 31,
2013

Millions
 
 
 
Current Regulatory Assets (a)
 
 
 
Deferred Fuel

$22.1

 

$23.0

Total Current Regulatory Assets
22.1

 
23.0

Non-Current Regulatory Assets
 
 
 
Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans (b)
164.7

 
164.1

Income Taxes
36.2

 
35.3

Asset Retirement Obligations
16.7

 
16.0

Cost Recovery Riders (c)
40.3

 
39.6

PPACA Income Tax Deferral
5.0

 
5.0

Other
4.1

 
3.8

Total Non-Current Regulatory Assets
267.0

 
263.8

Total Regulatory Assets

$289.1

 

$286.8

 
 
 
 
Non-Current Regulatory Liabilities
 
 
 
Income Taxes

$17.1

 

$17.0

Plant Removal Obligations
20.4

 
19.7

Wholesale and Retail Contra AFUDC
23.7

 
19.7

Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans (b)
15.9

 
16.3

Other
12.8

 
8.3

Total Non-Current Regulatory Liabilities

$89.9

 

$81.0

(a)
Current regulatory assets are included in Prepayments and Other on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.
(b)
Defined benefit pension and other postretirement items included in our Regulated Operations, which are otherwise required to be recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income, are recognized as regulatory assets or regulatory liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheet (See Note 14. Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans).
(c)
The cost recovery rider regulatory asset is primarily due to capital expenditures related to our Bison Wind Energy Center and is recognized in accordance with the accounting standards for alternative revenue programs.


NOTE 8.  INVESTMENT IN ATC

Our wholly-owned subsidiary, Rainy River Energy, owns approximately 8 percent of ATC, a Wisconsin-based utility that owns and maintains electric transmission assets in parts of Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota and Illinois. ATC rates are FERC-approved and are based on a 12.2 percent return on common equity dedicated to utility plant. We account for our investment in ATC under the equity method of accounting. As of March 31, 2014, our equity investment in ATC was $116.6 million ($114.6 million at December 31, 2013). In the first three months of 2014, we invested $1.2 million in ATC, and on April 29, 2014, we invested an additional $1.2 million. We expect to make additional investments of approximately $3.4 million in 2014.

ALLETE’s Investment in ATC
 
Millions
 
Equity Investment Balance as of December 31, 2013

$114.6

Cash Investments
1.2

Equity in ATC Earnings
5.1

Distributed ATC Earnings
(4.3
)
Equity Investment Balance as of March 31, 2014

$116.6



ALLETE First Quarter 2014 Form 10-Q
20

NOTE 8.  INVESTMENT IN ATC (Continued)

ATC’s summarized financial data for the quarters ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, is as follows:
 
Quarter Ended
ATC Summarized Financial Data
March 31,
Income Statement Data
2014
 
2013
Millions
 
 
 
Revenue

$163.3

 
$151.8
Operating Expense
78.6

 
69.8
Other Expense
21.6

 
21.5
Net Income

$63.1

 
$60.5
ALLETE’s Equity in Net Income

$5.1

 
$5.2


NOTE 9.  SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM DEBT

Short-Term Debt. As of March 31, 2014, total short-term debt outstanding was $11.1 million ($27.2 million as of December 31, 2013) and consisted of long-term debt due within one year. Short-term debt as of December 31, 2013, included $18.0 million of long-term debt that matured in January 2014.

Long-Term Debt. As of March 31, 2014, total long-term debt outstanding was $1,202.5 million ($1,083.0 million as of December 31, 2013). In conjunction with ALLETE Clean Energy’s January 30, 2014 wind energy facilities acquisition, ALLETE Clean Energy assumed $23.3 million of long-term debt, including $2.2 million due within one year (see Note 4. Acquisitions).

In December 2013, we agreed to sell $215.0 million in 2014 of ALLETE first mortgage bonds (Bonds) in the private placement market in four series as described in the following table. On March 4, 2014, we issued $100.0 million of the Bonds. We expect to issue the remaining two series on, or about, June 26, 2014, as shown below:

Issue Date (on or about)
Maturity Date
Principal Amount
Interest Rate
March 4, 2014
March 15, 2024
$60 Million
3.69%
March 4, 2014
March 15, 2044
$40 Million
4.95%
June 26, 2014
July 15, 2022
$75 Million
3.40%
June 26, 2014
July 15, 2044
$40 Million
5.05%

The Company has the option to prepay all or a portion of the Bonds at its discretion, subject to a make-whole provision. The Bonds are subject to additional terms and conditions which are customary for these types of transactions. The Company intends to use the proceeds from the sale of the Bonds to refinance debt, fund utility capital expenditures or for general corporate purposes. The Bonds were and will be sold in reliance on an exemption from registration under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to institutional accredited investors.

Financial Covenants. Our long-term debt arrangements contain customary covenants. In addition, our lines of credit and letters of credit supporting certain long-term debt arrangements contain financial covenants. Our compliance with financial covenants is not dependent on debt ratings. The most restrictive financial covenant requires ALLETE to maintain a ratio of Indebtedness to Total Capitalization (as the amounts are calculated in accordance with the respective long-term debt arrangements) of less than or equal to 0.65 to 1.00, measured quarterly. As of March 31, 2014, our ratio was approximately 0.46 to 1.00. Failure to meet this covenant would give rise to an event of default if not cured after notice from a lender, in which event ALLETE may need to pursue alternative sources of funding. Some of ALLETE’s debt arrangements contain “cross-default” provisions that would result in an event of default if there is a failure under other financing arrangements to meet payment terms or to observe other covenants that would result in an acceleration of payments due. As of March 31, 2014, ALLETE was in compliance with its financial covenants.



ALLETE First Quarter 2014 Form 10-Q
21

NOTE 10.  OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)

 
 
Quarter Ended
 
 
March 31,
 
 
2014
 
2013
Millions
 
 
 
 
AFUDC – Equity
 

$1.8

 

$1.1

Gain on Sale of Available-for-sale Securities
 
—

 
0.8

Investments and Other Income
 
0.2

 
0.8

Total Other Income
 

$2.0

 

$2.7



NOTE 11.  INCOME TAX EXPENSE
 
 
Quarter Ended
 
 
March 31,
 
 
2014
 
2013
Millions
 
 
 
 
Current Tax Expense (Benefit)
 
 
 
 
Federal (a)
 
—

 

$0.2

State (a)
 
—

 
—

Total Current Tax Expense (Benefit)
 
—

 
0.2

Deferred Tax Expense (Benefit)
 
 
 
 
Federal
 

$6.3

 

$5.8

State
 
2.7

 
1.7

Investment Tax Credit Amortization
 
(0.2
)
 
(0.2
)
Total Deferred Tax Expense
 
8.8

 
7.3

Total Income Tax Expense
 

$8.8

 

$7.5

(a)
For the quarter ended March 31, 2014, the federal and state current tax expense of zero was due to the utilization of NOL carryforwards from prior periods. For the quarter ended March 31, 2013, the federal and state current tax expense of $0.2 million and zero, respectively, was due to federal and state NOLs which resulted from the bonus depreciation provision of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012. The federal and state NOLs remaining after utilization in 2014 will be carried forward to offset future taxable income.

For the quarter ended March 31, 2014, the effective tax rate was 20.7 percent (18.8 percent for the quarter ended March 31, 2013). The increase from the effective tax rate for the quarter ended March 31, 2013, was primarily due to higher pretax income. The effective tax rate deviated from the statutory rate of approximately 41 percent primarily due to deductions for AFUDC–Equity, investment tax credits, renewable tax credits and depletion.

Uncertain Tax Positions. As of March 31, 2014, we had gross unrecognized tax benefits of $1.2 million ($1.2 million as of December 31, 2013). Of the total gross unrecognized tax benefits, $0.2 million represents the amount of unrecognized tax benefits included in the Consolidated Balance Sheet that, if recognized, would favorably impact the effective income tax rate. The unrecognized tax benefit amounts have been presented as reductions to the tax benefits associated with NOL and tax credit carryforwards on the Consolidated Balance Sheet (see Note 1. Operations and Significant Accounting Policies).

ALLETE and its subsidiaries file a consolidated federal income tax return as well as combined and separate state income tax returns in various jurisdictions. ALLETE is no longer subject to federal examination for years before 2009, or state examination for years before 2005.

In September 2013, the U.S. Treasury issued final regulations addressing the tax consequences associated with the acquisition, production and improvement of tangible property. The regulations are generally effective for tax years beginning January 1, 2014. As ALLETE is adopting certain utility-specific guidance for deductible repairs previously issued by the IRS, the final regulation did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.



ALLETE First Quarter 2014 Form 10-Q
22

NOTE 12. RECLASSIFICATIONS OUT OF ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

Changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax, for the quarters ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, were as follows:

 
Unrealized Gains and Losses on Available-for-sale Securities
Defined Benefit Pension, Other Postretirement Items
Gains and Losses on Cash Flow Hedge
Total
Millions
 
 
 
 
For the Quarter Ended March 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
Beginning Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
$(0.1)
$(16.7)
$(0.3)
$(17.1)
Other Comprehensive Income Before Reclassifications
—

—

—

—

Amounts Reclassified From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
—

0.3
—

0.3
Net Other Comprehensive Income
—

0.3
—

0.3
Ending Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
$(0.1)
$(16.4)
$(0.3)
$(16.8)
 
 
 
 
 
For the Quarter Ended March 31, 2013
 
 
 
 
Beginning Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
$(0.1)
$(21.5)
$(0.4)
$(22.0)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Before Reclassifications
0.5
(2.9)
0.1

(2.3)
Amounts Reclassified From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
(0.5)
3.2
—

2.7
Net Other Comprehensive Income
—

0.3
0.1

0.4
Ending Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
$(0.1)
$(21.2)
$(0.3)
$(21.6)


Reclassifications from accumulated other comprehensive loss for the quarters ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, were as follows:


Quarter Ended
Quarter Ended
Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
March 31,
March 31,
 
2014
2013
Millions
 
 
Unrealized Gains on Available-for-sale Securities (a)
—

$0.8
Income Taxes (b)
—

(0.3)
Total, Net of Income Taxes
—

$0.5
 
 
 
Amortization of Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Items
 
 
Prior Service Costs (c)
$0.1
$0.5
Actuarial Gains and Losses (c)
(0.6)
(5.7)
Total
(0.5)
(5.2)
Income Taxes (b)
0.2
2.0
Total, Net of Income Taxes
$(0.3)
$(3.2)
Total Reclassifications
$(0.3)
$(2.7)
(a)
Included in Other Income (Expense) – Other on the Consolidated Statement of Income.
(b)
Included in Income Tax Expense on the Consolidated Statement of Income.
(c)
Defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit items excluded from our Regulated Operations are recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss and are subsequently reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive loss as components of net periodic pension and other postretirement benefit expense (see Note 14. Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans).


ALLETE First Quarter 2014 Form 10-Q
23

NOTE 13.  EARNINGS PER SHARE AND COMMON STOCK

We compute basic earnings per share using the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during each period. The difference between basic and diluted earnings per share, if any, arises from outstanding stock options, non-vested restricted stock units, performance share awards granted under our Executive Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan and common shares under the forward sale agreement (described below). For the quarters ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, zero and 0.1 million options to purchase shares of common stock, respectively, were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share because the option exercise prices were greater than the average market prices; therefore, their effect would have been anti-dilutive.

 
 
 
2014
 
 
 
 
 
2013
 
 
Reconciliation of Basic and Diluted
 
 
Dilutive
 
 
 
 
 
Dilutive
 
 
Earnings Per Share
Basic
 
Securities
 
Diluted
 
Basic
 
Securities
 
Diluted
Millions Except Per Share Amounts
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the Quarter Ended March 31,
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net Income

$33.5

 
 
 

$33.5

 

$32.5

 
 
 

$32.5

Average Common Shares
41.4

 
0.2

 
41.6

 
38.9

 
0.1

 
39.0

Earnings Per Share

$0.81

 
 
 

$0.80

 

$0.83

 
 
 

$0.83


Forward Sale Agreement and Issuance of Common Stock. On February 26, 2014, ALLETE entered into a confirmation of forward sale agreement (Agreement) with a forward counterparty in connection with a public offering of 2.8 million shares of ALLETE common stock. The use of an equity forward transaction substantially eliminates future equity market price risk by fixing a common equity offering sales price under the then existing market conditions, while mitigating immediate share dilution resulting from the offering by postponing the actual issuance of common stock until funds are needed in accordance with our capital investment strategy.

Pursuant to the Agreement, the forward counterparty (or its affiliate) borrowed 2.8 million shares of ALLETE common stock (borrowed shares) from third parties and sold them to the underwriters. ALLETE has right to elect physical, cash or net share settlement under the forward sales agreement, for all or a portion of its obligations under the Agreement. In the event that ALLETE elects physical settlement of the Agreement, it will deliver shares of its common stock in exchange for cash proceeds at the then-applicable forward sale price. The forward sale price is initially $48.01 per share, subject to adjustment as provided in the Agreement. The Agreement provides for settlement at any time on or prior to March 1, 2015. ALLETE expect to physically settle the Agreement in its entirety by delivering 2.8 million shares of its common stock.

In connection with the public offering of the 2.8 million shares, ALLETE granted the underwriters an option to purchase up to an additional 0.4 million shares of ALLETE common stock (the option shares). The underwriters exercised the option in full and on March 4, 2014, the Company issued and sold the option shares to the underwriters at a price to ALLETE equal to the initial forward sale price for proceeds of $20.2 million.

The equity forward transaction was reflected in ALLETE’s diluted earnings per share using the treasury stock method, which resulted in no material dilutive impact to ALLETE’s diluted earnings per share for the quarter ended March 31, 2014. Prior to a settlement date, any dilutive effect of the Agreement on our earnings per share would only occur during periods when the average market price per share of our common stock is above the per share adjusted forward sales price described above.

The equity forward transaction has no initial fair value since it was entered into at the then market price of the common stock. ALLETE will not receive any proceeds with respect to the borrowed shares until the equity forward transaction is settled, and at that time the proceeds, if any, will be recorded in equity. The equity forward transaction is accounted for as an equity instrument in accordance with the accounting guidance for distinguishing liabilities from equity and the guidance for derivatives. Under the accounting guidance, the transaction qualifies for an exception from derivative accounting because the forward sale transaction is indexed to ALLETE’s stock.

Contributions to Pension. On January 10, 2014, ALLETE contributed 0.4 million shares of ALLETE common stock to its pension plan. These shares of ALLETE common stock were contributed in reliance upon an exemption available pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933 and had an aggregate value of $19.5 million when contributed.

ALLETE First Quarter 2014 Form 10-Q
24

NOTE 14.  PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS

 
Pension
 
Other
Postretirement
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Expense
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
Millions
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the Quarter Ended March 31,
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Service Cost

$2.1

 

$2.5

 

$0.9

 

$1.0

Interest Cost
7.4

 
6.5

 
1.8

 
1.7

Expected Return on Plan Assets
(9.6
)
 
(8.8
)
 
(2.6
)
 
(2.5
)
Amortization of Prior Service Costs (Credits)
0.1

 
0.1

 
(0.6
)
 
(0.6
)
Amortization of Net Loss
3.6

 
5.3

 
0.1

 
0.4

Net Periodic Benefit Expense

$3.6

 

$5.6

 
$(0.4)
 
—


Employer Contributions. For the quarter ended March 31, 2014, $19.5 million of ALLETE common stock was contributed to our defined benefit pension plan (no contributions for the quarter ended March 31, 2013). For the quarter ended March 31, 2014, we made no contributions to our other postretirement benefit plan ($10.8 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2013). We do not expect to make any additional contributions to our defined benefit pension plan in 2014, and we do not expect to make any contributions to our other postretirement benefit plan in 2014.


NOTE 15.  COMMITMENTS, GUARANTEES AND CONTINGENCIES

Power Purchase Agreements. Our long-term PPAs have been evaluated under the accounting guidance for variable interest entities. At Minnesota Power, we have determined that either we have no variable interest in the PPAs or, where we do have variable interests, we are not the primary beneficiary; therefore, consolidation is not required. These conclusions are based on the fact that we do not have both control over activities that are most significant to the entity and an obligation to absorb losses or receive benefits from the entity’s performance. Our financial exposure relating to these PPAs is limited to our capacity and energy payments.

Square Butte PPA. Minnesota Power has a PPA with Square Butte that extends through 2026 (Agreement). It provides a long-term supply of energy to customers in our electric service territory and enables Minnesota Power to meet reserve requirements. Square Butte, a North Dakota cooperative corporation, owns a 455 MW coal-fired generating unit (Unit) near Center, North Dakota. The Unit is adjacent to a generating unit owned by Minnkota Power, a North Dakota cooperative corporation whose Class A members are also members of Square Butte. Minnkota Power serves as the operator of the Unit and also purchases power from Square Butte.

Minnesota Power is obligated to pay its pro rata share of Square Butte’s costs based on Minnesota Power’s entitlement to Unit output. Our output entitlement under the Agreement is 50 percent for the remainder of the contract, subject to the provisions of the Minnkota Power sales agreement described below. Minnesota Power’s payment obligation will be suspended if Square Butte fails to deliver any power, whether produced or purchased, for a period of one year. Square Butte’s costs consist primarily of debt service, operating and maintenance, depreciation and fuel expenses. As of March 31, 2014, Square Butte had total debt outstanding of $423.4 million. Annual debt service for Square Butte is expected to be approximately $44 million in each of the years 2014 through 2018, of which Minnesota Power’s obligation is 50 percent. Fuel expenses are recoverable through our fuel adjustment clause and include the cost of coal purchased from BNI Coal, under a long-term contract.

Minnesota Power’s cost of power purchased from Square Butte during the three months ended March 31, 2014, was $16.8 million ($16.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013). This reflects Minnesota Power’s pro rata share of total Square Butte costs based on the 50 percent output entitlement. Included in this amount was Minnesota Power’s pro rata share of interest expense of $2.5 million during the three months ended March 31, 2014 ($2.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013). Minnesota Power’s payments to Square Butte are approved as a purchased power expense for ratemaking purposes by both the MPUC and the FERC.

Minnkota Power Sales Agreement. In December 2009, Minnesota Power entered into a power sales agreement with Minnkota Power. Under the power sales agreement, Minnesota Power will sell a portion of its output from Square Butte to Minnkota Power, resulting in Minnkota Power’s net entitlement increasing and Minnesota Power’s net entitlement decreasing until Minnesota Power’s share is eliminated at the end of 2025.


ALLETE First Quarter 2014 Form 10-Q
25

NOTE 15.  COMMITMENTS, GUARANTEES AND CONTINGENCIES (Continued)
Power Purchase Agreements (Continued)

No power will be sold under the 2009 agreement until Minnkota Power has placed in service a new AC transmission line, which is expected to occur in mid-2014. This new AC transmission line will allow Minnkota Power to transmit its entitlement from Square Butte directly to its customers, which in turn will enable Minnesota Power to transmit additional wind generation on the existing DC transmission line.

Minnkota Power PPA. In December 2012, Minnesota Power entered into a long-term PPA with Minnkota Power. Under this agreement, Minnesota Power will purchase 50 MW of capacity and the energy associated with that capacity over the term June 2016 through May 2020. The agreement includes a fixed capacity charge and energy pricing that escalates at a fixed rate annually over the term.

Oliver Wind I and II PPAs. In 2006 and 2007, Minnesota Power entered into two long-term wind PPAs with an affiliate of NextEra Energy, Inc. to purchase the output from Oliver Wind I (50 MW) and Oliver Wind II (48 MW)—wind facilities located near Center, North Dakota. Each agreement is for 25 years and provides for the purchase of all output from the facilities at fixed energy prices. There are no fixed capacity charges, and we only pay for energy as it is delivered to us.

Manitoba Hydro PPAs. Minnesota Power has a long-term PPA with Manitoba Hydro that expires in May 2015. Under this agreement, Minnesota Power is purchasing 50 MW of capacity and the energy associated with that capacity. Both the capacity price and the energy price are adjusted annually by the change in a governmental inflationary index. In addition, Minnesota Power has a separate long-term PPA with Manitoba Hydro to purchase surplus energy through April 2022. This energy-only agreement primarily consists of surplus hydro energy on Manitoba Hydro’s system that is delivered to Minnesota Power on a non-firm basis. The pricing is based on forward market prices. Under this agreement, Minnesota Power will purchase at least one million MWh of energy over the contract term.

In May 2011, Minnesota Power and Manitoba Hydro signed an additional long-term PPA. The PPA provides for Manitoba Hydro to sell 250 MW of capacity and energy to Minnesota Power for 15 years beginning in 2020. The agreement is subject to construction of additional transmission capacity between Manitoba and the U.S., along with construction of new hydroelectric generating capacity in Manitoba. The capacity price is adjusted annually until 2020 by a change in a governmental inflationary index. The energy price is based on a formula that includes an annual fixed price component adjusted for a change in a governmental inflationary index and a natural gas index, as well as market prices.

North Dakota Wind Development. Minnesota Power uses the 465-mile, 250 kV DC transmission line that runs from Center, North Dakota, to Duluth, Minnesota to transport increasing amounts of wind energy from North Dakota while gradually phasing out coal-based electricity delivered to our system over this transmission line from Square Butte’s lignite coal-fired generating unit.

Our 292 MW Bison Wind Energy Center, located in North Dakota, was completed in various phases through 2012. Customer billing rates for our Bison Wind Energy Center were approved by the MPUC in an order dated December 3, 2013.

On September 25, 2013, the NDPSC approved the site permit for Bison 4, a 205 MW wind project in North Dakota, which is an addition to our Bison Wind Energy Center. As a result, construction has commenced and is expected to be completed by the end of 2014. The total project investment for Bison 4 is estimated to be approximately $345 million, of which $187.1 million was spent through March 31, 2014. On January 17, 2014, the MPUC approved Minnesota Power’s petition seeking cost recovery for investments and expenditures related to Bison 4. We included Bison 4 as part of our renewable resources rider factor filing along with the Company’s other renewable projects in a filing on April 29, 2014, which, upon approval, will authorize updated rates to be included on customer bills.

Hydro Operations. In June 2012, record rainfall and flooding occurred near Duluth, Minnesota and surrounding areas. The flooding impacted Minnesota Power’s St. Louis River hydro system, particularly the Thomson Energy Center (Thomson), which had damage to the forebay canal and flooding at the facility. Minnesota Power worked closely with the appropriate regulatory bodies which oversee the hydro system operations, including dams and reservoirs, to restore the Thomson facility and to rebuild the forebay embankment. Minnesota Power continues restoration and upgrade work at the Thomson facility and completed rebuilding the forebay embankment. Minnesota Power anticipates partial generation at the Thomson Energy Center in the second quarter of 2014. Work is ongoing toward returning to full generation late in 2014 and improving the spillway capacity at the Thomson dam in 2015. Total project costs are estimated to be approximately $90 million, of which $66.4 million was spent through March 31, 2014. A request seeking cost recovery of capital expenditures related to the restoration and repair of the Thomson facility through a renewable resources rider is expected to be filed with the MPUC in 2014.


ALLETE First Quarter 2014 Form 10-Q
26

NOTE 15.  COMMITMENTS, GUARANTEES AND CONTINGENCIES (Continued)

Coal, Rail and Shipping Contracts. We have coal supply agreements providing for the purchase of a significant portion of our coal requirements with expiration dates through 2015. We also have coal transportation agreements in place for the delivery of a significant portion of our coal requirements with expiration dates through 2015. Currently, Minnesota Power is in discussions regarding the extension of our coal supply and transportation contracts beyond 2015. Our minimum annual payment obligation under these supply and transportation agreements is $26.0 million for the remainder of 2014 and $4.0 million for 2015. Our minimum annual payment obligation will increase when annual nominations are made for coal deliveries in future years. The delivered costs of fuel for Minnesota Power’s generation are recoverable from Minnesota Power’s utility customers through the fuel adjustment clause.

Leasing Agreements. BNI Coal is obligated to make lease payments for a dragline totaling $2.8 million annually for the lease term, which expires in 2027. BNI Coal has the option at the end of the lease term to renew the lease at fair market value, to purchase the dragline at fair market value, or to surrender the dragline and pay a $3.0 million termination fee. We also lease other properties and equipment under operating lease agreements with terms expiring through 2021. The aggregate amount of minimum lease payments for all operating leases is $12.1 million in 2014, $11.5 million in 2015, $9.5 million in 2016, $8.7 million in 2017, $7.4 million in 2018 and $29.2 million thereafter.

Transmission. We continue to make investments in Upper Midwest transmission opportunities that strengthen or enhance the regional transmission grid. This includes the CapX2020 initiative, investments in our own transmission assets, investments in other regional transmission assets (individually or in combination with others), and our investment in ATC.

Transmission Investments. Minnesota Power has an approved cost recovery rider in place for certain transmission investments and expenditures. In November 2013, the MPUC approved Minnesota Power’s updated billing factor which allows Minnesota Power to charge retail customers on a current basis for the costs of constructing certain transmission facilities plus a return on the capital invested. We filed a petition on April 24, 2014, to include additional transmission investments and expenditures in customer billing rates.

CapX2020. Minnesota Power is a participant in the CapX2020 initiative which represents an effort to ensure electric transmission and distribution reliability in Minnesota and the surrounding region for the future. CapX2020, which consists of electric cooperatives, municipal and investor-owned utilities, including Minnesota’s largest transmission owners, has assessed the transmission system and projected growth in customer demand for electricity through 2020. Studies show that the region’s transmission system will require major upgrades and expansion to accommodate increased electricity demand as well as support renewable energy expansion through 2020.
Minnesota Power is currently participating in the construction of one CapX2020 transmission line project. Minnesota Power also participated in two CapX2020 projects which were previously completed and placed into service in 2011 and 2012. In June 2011, the MPUC approved the route permit for the Minnesota portion of the Fargo to St. Cloud project, which is currently under construction and expected to be in service by 2015. The North Dakota permitting process was completed in August 2012.
Based on projected costs of the three transmission line projects and the allocation agreements among participating utilities, in total Minnesota Power plans to invest between $100 million and $110 million in the CapX2020 initiative through 2015, of which $85.7 million was spent through March 31, 2014. As future CapX2020 projects are identified, Minnesota Power may elect to participate on a project-by-project basis.
Great Northern Transmission Line (GNTL). As a condition of the long-term PPA signed in May 2011 with Manitoba Hydro, construction of additional transmission capacity is required. As a result, Minnesota Power and Manitoba Hydro proposed construction of the GNTL, an approximately 220-mile 500 kV transmission line between Manitoba and Minnesota’s Iron Range in order to strengthen the electric grid, enhance regional reliability and promote a greater exchange of sustainable energy.

The GNTL is subject to various federal and state regulatory approvals. Before a large energy facility can be sited or constructed in Minnesota, the MPUC requires a Certificate of Need, which was filed in October 2013. In an order dated January 8, 2014, the MPUC determined the Certificate of Need application was complete and referred the docket to an administrative law judge for a contested case proceeding. On April 15, 2014, Minnesota Power filed a route permit application with the MPUC and a request for a presidential permit to cross the U.S.-Canadian border with the U.S. Department of Energy. Manitoba Hydro must also obtain regulatory and governmental approvals related to new transmission lines and hydroelectric generation development in Canada. Upon receipt of all applicable permits and approvals, construction is anticipated to begin in 2016, and to be completed in 2020. Total project cost in the U.S., including substation work, is estimated to be between $500 million and $650 million, depending on the final route of the line. Minnesota Power will have majority ownership of the transmission line.

ALLETE First Quarter 2014 Form 10-Q
27

NOTE 15.  COMMITMENTS, GUARANTEES AND CONTINGENCIES (Continued)

Environmental Matters

Our businesses are subject to regulation of environmental matters by various federal, state and local authorities. Currently, a number of regulatory changes to the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act and various waste management requirements are under consideration by both Congress and the EPA. Minnesota Power’s fossil fuel facilities will likely be subject to regulation under these proposals. Our intention is to reduce our exposure to these requirements by reshaping our generation portfolio over time to reduce our reliance on coal.

We consider our businesses to be in substantial compliance with currently applicable environmental regulations and believe all necessary permits to conduct such operations have been obtained. Due to expected future restrictive environmental requirements imposed through legislation and/or rulemaking, we anticipate that potential expenditures for environmental matters will be material and will require significant capital investments. Minnesota Power has evaluated various environmental compliance scenarios using possible ranges of future environmental regulations to project power supply trends and impacts on customers.

We review environmental matters on a quarterly basis. Accruals for environmental matters are recorded when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the liability can be reasonably estimated, based on current law and existing technologies. Accruals are adjusted as assessment and remediation efforts progress or as additional technical or legal information become available. Accruals for environmental liabilities are included in the Consolidated Balance Sheet at undiscounted amounts and exclude claims for recoveries from insurance or other third parties. Costs related to environmental contamination treatment and cleanup are charged to expense unless recoverable in rates from customers.

Air. The electric utility industry is regulated both at the federal and state level to address air emissions. Minnesota Power’s generating facilities mainly burn low-sulfur western sub-bituminous coal. All of Minnesota Power’s coal-fired generating facilities are equipped with pollution control equipment such as scrubbers, baghouses and low NOX technologies. Under currently applicable environmental regulations, these facilities are substantially compliant with applicable emission requirements.

New Source Review (NSR). In August 2008, Minnesota Power received a Notice of Violation (NOV) from the EPA asserting violations of the NSR requirements of the Clean Air Act at Boswell Units 1, 2, 3 and 4 and Laskin Unit 2. The NOV asserts that seven projects undertaken at these coal-fired plants between the years 1981 and 2000 should have been reviewed under the NSR requirements and that Boswell Unit 4’s Title V permit was violated. In April 2011, Minnesota Power received a NOV alleging that two projects undertaken at Rapids Energy Center in 2004 and 2005 should have been reviewed under the NSR requirements and that the Rapids Energy Center’s Title V permit was violated. Minnesota Power believes the projects specified in the NOVs were in full compliance with the Clean Air Act, NSR requirements and applicable permits. Resolution of the NOVs could result in civil penalties, which we do not believe will be material to our results of operations, retirements or refueling of generating units, and the installation of additional pollution control equipment, some of which is already planned or which has been completed to comply with other regulatory requirements. We are engaged in discussions with the EPA regarding resolution of these matters, but we are unable to estimate the expenditures, or range of expenditures, that may be required upon resolution. Any costs of retirements, refueling, or installing additional pollution control equipment would likely be eligible for recovery in rates over time subject to regulatory approval in a rate proceeding.

Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR). In July 2011, the EPA issued the CSAPR, which replaced the EPA’s 2005 CAIR. However, in August 2012, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (Circuit Court of Appeals) vacated the CSAPR, ordering that the CAIR remain in effect while a CSAPR replacement rule is promulgated. In March 2013, the EPA petitioned the Supreme Court to review the Circuit Court of Appeals ruling. In April 2014, the Supreme Court issued a decision reversing the Circuit Court of Appeals and upholding the CSAPR. The Supreme Court remanded the case to the Circuit Court of Appeals for further proceedings. We are reviewing the Supreme Court’s decision. The CSAPR would require states in the CSAPR region, including Minnesota, to significantly improve air quality by reducing power plant emissions that contribute to ozone and/or fine particle pollution in other states. The CSAPR would not directly require the installation of controls. Instead, the rule would require facilities to have sufficient emission allowances to cover their emissions on an annual basis. These allowances would be allocated to facilities from each state’s annual budget and could be bought and sold.

The CAIR regulations similarly require certain states to improve air quality by reducing power plant emissions that contribute to ozone and/or fine particle pollution in other states. The CAIR also created an allowance allocation and trading program rather than specifying pollution controls. Minnesota participation in the CAIR was stayed by EPA administrative action while the EPA completed a review of air quality modeling issues in conjunction with the development of a final replacement rule. While the CAIR remains in effect, Minnesota participation in the CAIR will continue to be stayed.


ALLETE First Quarter 2014 Form 10-Q
28

NOTE 15. COMMITMENTS, GUARANTEES AND CONTINGENCIES (Continued)
Environmental Matters (Continued)

Since 2006, we have significantly reduced emissions at our Laskin, Taconite Harbor and Boswell generating units. Based on our expected generation, these emission reductions would have satisfied Minnesota Power’s SO2 and NOX emission compliance obligations with respect to the EPA-allocated CSAPR allowances for 2013. We are unable to predict any additional compliance costs we might incur as a result of the CSAPR.

Regional Haze. The federal Regional Haze Rule requires states to submit SIPs to the EPA to address regional haze visibility impairment in 156 federally-protected parks and wilderness areas. Under the first phase of the Regional Haze Rule, certain large stationary sources, built between 1962 and 1977, with emissions contributing to visibility impairment, are required to install emission controls, known as Best Available Retrofit Technology (BART). We have two steam units, Boswell Unit 3 and Taconite Harbor Unit 3, subject to BART requirements.

The MPCA requested that companies with BART-eligible units complete and submit a BART emissions control retrofit study, which was completed for Taconite Harbor Unit 3 in November 2008. The retrofit work completed in 2009 at Boswell Unit 3 meets the BART requirements for that unit. In December 2009, the MPCA approved the Minnesota SIP for submittal to the EPA for its review and approval. The Minnesota SIP incorporates information from the BART emissions control retrofit studies that were completed as requested by the MPCA.

Due to legal challenges at both the state and federal levels, there is currently no applicable compliance deadline for the Regional Haze Rule. If additional regional haze related controls are ultimately required, Minnesota Power will have up to five years from the final rule promulgation date to bring Taconite Harbor Unit 3 into compliance. As part of our 2013 Integrated Resource Plan, which was approved by the MPUC in November 2013, we plan to retire Taconite Harbor Unit 3 in 2015. We believe that the Taconite Harbor Unit 3 retirement will be accomplished before any compliance deadline takes effect.

Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) Rule (formerly known as the Electric Generating Unit Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) Rule). Under Section 112 of the Clean Air Act, the EPA is required to set emission standards for hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) for certain source categories. The EPA published the final MATS rule in the Federal Register in February 2012, addressing such emissions from coal-fired utility units greater than 25 MW. There are currently 187 listed HAPs that the EPA is required to evaluate for establishment of MACT standards. In the final MATS rule, the EPA established categories of HAPs, including mercury, trace metals other than mercury, acid gases, dioxin/furans, and organics other than dioxin/furans. The EPA also established emission limits for the first three categories of HAPs, and work practice standards for the remaining categories. Affected sources must be in compliance with the rule by April 2015. States have the authority to grant sources a one-year extension. Minnesota Power was notified by the MPCA that it has approved Minnesota Power’s request for an additional year extending the date of compliance for the Boswell Unit 4 environmental upgrade to April 1, 2016. Compliance at Boswell Unit 4 to address the final MATS rule is expected to result in capital expenditures of approximately $310 million through 2016, of which $77.0 million was spent through March 31, 2014. Our minimum payment obligation for the environmental upgrade is $101.0 million for 2014 and $58.2 million for 2015. Our “EnergyForward” plan, which was approved as part of our 2013 Integrated Resource Plan by the MPUC in an order dated November 12, 2013, also includes the conversion of Laskin Units 1 and 2 to natural gas in 2015, to position the Company for MATS compliance. On January 9, 2014, the MPCA approved Minnesota Power’s application to extend the deadline for Taconite Harbor Unit 3 to comply with MATS to June 1, 2015, in order to align the Unit 3 retirement with MISO’s resource planning year.

EPA National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Major Sources: Industrial, Commercial and Institutional Boilers and Process Heaters. In March 2011, a final rule was published in the Federal Register for Industrial Boiler Maximum Achievable Control Technology (Industrial Boiler MACT). The rule was stayed by the EPA in May 2011, to allow the EPA time to consider additional comments received. The EPA re-proposed the rule in December 2011. In January 2012, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia ruled that the EPA stay of the Industrial Boiler MACT was unlawful, effectively reinstating the March 2011 rule and associated compliance deadlines. A final rule based on the December 2011 proposal, which supersedes the March 2011 rule, became effective in December 2012. Major existing sources have until January 31, 2016, to achieve compliance with the final rule. Minnesota Power’s Hibbard Renewable Energy Center and Rapids Energy Center are subject to this rule. We expect compliance to consist largely of adjustments to our operating practices; therefore costs for complying with the final rule are not expected to be material at this time.


ALLETE First Quarter 2014 Form 10-Q
29

NOTE 15. COMMITMENTS, GUARANTEES AND CONTINGENCIES (Continued)
Environmental Matters (Continued)

Minnesota Mercury Emissions Reduction Act. In order to comply with the 2006 Minnesota Mercury Emissions Reduction Act, Minnesota Power must implement a mercury emissions reduction project for Boswell Unit 4 by December 31, 2018. The Boswell Unit 4 environmental upgrade discussed above, which is required to be completed by April 1, 2016 (see Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) Rule), will fulfill the requirements of the Minnesota Mercury Emissions Reduction Act. Costs to implement the Boswell Unit 4 mercury emissions reduction plan are included in the estimated capital expenditures required for compliance with the MATS rule discussed above (see Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) Rule).

Proposed and Finalized National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The EPA is required to review the NAAQS every five years. If the EPA determines that a state’s air quality is not in compliance with NAAQS, the state is required to adopt plans describing how it will reduce emissions to attain the NAAQS. These state plans often include more stringent air emission limitations on sources of air pollutants than the NAAQS. Four NAAQS have either recently been revised or are currently proposed for revision, as described below.

Ozone NAAQS. The EPA has proposed to more stringently control emissions that result in ground level ozone. In January 2010, the EPA proposed to revise the 2008 eight-hour ozone standard and to adopt a secondary standard for the protection of sensitive vegetation from ozone-related damage. The EPA was scheduled to decide upon the 2008 eight-hour ozone standard in July 2011, but has since announced that it is deferring revision of this standard until 2014 or later. Consequently, the costs for complying with the final ozone NAAQS cannot be estimated at this time.

Particulate Matter NAAQS. The EPA finalized the Particulate Matter NAAQS in September 2006. Since then, the EPA has established more stringent 24-hour average fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and annual PM2.5 standards; the 24-hour coarse particulate matter standard has remained unchanged. The District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals remanded the annual PM2.5 standard to the EPA, requiring consideration of lower annual standard values. The EPA proposed new PM2.5 standards in June 2012.

In December 2012, the EPA issued a final rule implementing a more stringent annual PM2.5 standard, while retaining the current 24-hour PM2.5 standard. To implement the new more stringent annual PM2.5 standard, the EPA is also revising aspects of relevant monitoring, designation and permitting requirements. New projects and permits must comply with the new more stringent standard, and compliance with the NAAQS at the facility level is generally demonstrated by modeling.

Under the final rule, states will be responsible for additional PM2.5 monitoring, which will likely be accomplished by relocating or repurposing existing monitors. The EPA asked states to submit attainment designations by December 2013, based on already available monitoring data. The EPA believes that most U.S. counties already meet the new standard and plans to finalize designations of attainment by December 2014. For those counties that the EPA does not designate as having already met the requirements of the new standard, specific dates for required attainment will depend on technology availability, state permitting goals, potential legal challenges and other factors. Minnesota is anticipating that it will retain attainment status; however, Minnesota sources may ultimately be required to reduce their emissions to assist with attainment in neighboring states. Accordingly, the costs for complying with the final Particulate Matter NAAQS cannot be estimated at this time.

SO2 and NO2 NAAQS. During 2010, the EPA finalized one-hour NAAQS for SO2 and NO2. Ambient monitoring data indicates that Minnesota will likely be in compliance with these new standards; however, the one-hour SO2 NAAQS also may require the EPA to evaluate modeling data to determine attainment. The EPA notified states that their infrastructure SIPs for maintaining attainment of the standard were required to be submitted to the EPA for approval by June 2013. However, the State of Minnesota has delayed completing the documents pending receipt of EPA guidance to states for preparing the SIP submittal. Guidance was expected in 2013 and has been delayed.

In late 2011, the MPCA initiated modeling activities that included approximately 65 sources within Minnesota that emit greater than 100 tons of SO2 per year. However, in April 2012, the MPCA notified Minnesota Power that such modeling had been suspended as a result of the EPA’s announcement that the June 2013 SIP submittals would no longer require modeling demonstrations for states, such as Minnesota, where ambient monitors indicate compliance with the new standard. The MPCA is awaiting updated EPA guidance and will communicate with affected sources once the MPCA has more information on how the state will meet the EPA’s SIP requirements. Currently, compliance with these new NAAQS is expected to be required as early as 2017. The costs for complying with the final standards cannot be estimated at this time.


ALLETE First Quarter 2014 Form 10-Q
30

NOTE 15. COMMITMENTS, GUARANTEES AND CONTINGENCIES (Continued)
Environmental Matters (Continued)

Climate Change. The scientific community generally accepts that emissions of GHGs are linked to global climate change. Climate change creates physical and financial risks. Physical risks could include, but are not limited to: increased or decreased precipitation and water levels in lakes and rivers; increased temperatures; and changes in the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events. These all have the potential to affect the Company’s business and operations. We are addressing climate change by taking the following steps that also ensure reliable and environmentally compliant generation resources to meet our customers’ requirements:

•
Expanding our renewable energy supply;
•
Providing energy conservation initiatives for our customers and engaging in other demand side efforts;
•
Improving efficiency of our energy generating facilities;
•
Supporting research of technologies to reduce carbon emissions from generation facilities and carbon sequestration efforts; and
•
Evaluating and developing less carbon intensive future generating assets such as efficient and flexible natural gas generating facilities.

President Obama’s Climate Action Plan. In June 2013, President Obama announced a Climate Action Plan (CAP) that calls for implementation of measures that reduce GHG emissions in the U.S., emphasizing means such as expanded deployment of renewable energy resources, energy and resource conservation, energy efficiency improvements and a shift to fuel sources that have lower emissions. Certain portions of the CAP directly address electric utility GHG emissions, as further described below.

EPA Regulation of GHG Emissions. In May 2010, the EPA issued the final Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) and Title V Greenhouse Gas Tailoring Rule (Tailoring Rule). The Tailoring Rule establishes permitting thresholds required to address GHG emissions for new facilities, existing facilities that undergo major modifications and other facilities characterized as major sources under the Clean Air Act’s Title V program. For our existing facilities, the rule does not require amending our existing Title V operating permits to include GHG requirements. However, GHG requirements are likely to be added to our existing Title V operating permits by the MPCA as these permits are renewed or amended.

In late 2010, the EPA issued guidance to permitting authorities and affected sources to facilitate incorporation of the Tailoring Rule permitting requirements into the Title V and PSD permitting programs. The guidance stated that the project-specific, top-down Best Available Control Technology (BACT) determination process used for other pollutants will also be used to determine BACT for GHG emissions. Through sector-specific white papers, the EPA also provided examples and technical summaries of GHG emission control technologies and techniques the EPA considers available or likely to be available to sources. It is possible that these control technologies could be determined to be BACT on a project-by-project basis.

In March 2012, the EPA announced a proposed rule to apply CO2 emission New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) to new fossil fuel-fired electric generating units. The proposed NSPS would have applied only to new or re-powered units. Based on the volume of comments received, the EPA announced its intent to re-propose the rule.

In September 2013, the EPA retracted its March 2012 proposal and announced the release of a revised NSPS for new or re-powered utility CO2 emissions. The EPA also reaffirmed its plans to propose NSPS or regulatory guidelines for existing fossil fuel-fired electric generating units by June 1, 2014, and to finalize such rules by June 1, 2015. The EPA is soliciting feedback as to the approaches the EPA should consider for regulation of CO2 under the NSPS provisions of the Clean Air Act. Under the CAP, an approach was described where the EPA will issue regulatory guidelines and objectives to the states, which in turn will submit SIPs for EPA approval that demonstrate how the state will meet or surpass achievement of the EPA targeted objectives. The CAP directs the EPA to require states to submit such SIPs by June 30, 2016.

Minnesota has already initiated several measures consistent with those called for under the CAP. Minnesota Power has also announced its “EnergyForward” strategic plan that provides for significant emission reductions and diversifying its electricity generation mix to include more renewable and natural gas energy.

ALLETE First Quarter 2014 Form 10-Q
31

NOTE 15. COMMITMENTS, GUARANTEES AND CONTINGENCIES (Continued)
Environmental Matters (Continued)

Legal challenges have been filed with respect to the EPA’s regulation of GHG emissions, including the Tailoring Rule. In June 2012, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld most of the EPA’s proposed regulations, including the Tailoring Rule criteria, finding that the Clean Air Act compels the EPA to regulate in the manner the EPA proposed. In October 2013, the Supreme Court granted review of the Circuit Court’s decision, with such review limited to the question of whether EPA’s regulation of GHGs under the PSD provisions of the Clean Air Act and the Tailoring Rule was permissible. The Supreme Court’s decision, which is expected in the second quarter of 2014, is not expected to affect EPA’s authority to regulate CO2 from fossil fuel-fired electric generating units under the NSPS provisions of the Clean Air Act, but may affect the timing of such regulations.

We are unable to predict the GHG emission compliance costs we might incur; however, the costs could be material. We would seek recovery of any additional costs through cost recovery riders or in a general rate case.

Minnesota’s Next Generation Energy Act of 2007. On April 14, 2014, a U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota ruled that part of Minnesota’s Next Generation Act of 2007 violated the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution. The portions of the law which were ruled unconstitutional prohibited the importation of power from a new CO2-producing facility outside of Minnesota and prohibited the entry into new long-term power purchase agreements that would increase CO2 emissions in Minnesota. State officials have indicated that they will appeal the decision.

Water. The Clean Water Act requires NPDES permits be obtained from the EPA (or, when delegated, from individual state pollution control agencies) for any wastewater discharged into navigable waters. We have obtained all necessary NPDES permits, including NPDES storm water permits for applicable facilities, to conduct our operations.

Clean Water Act - Aquatic Organisms. In April 2011, the EPA announced proposed regulations under Section 316(b) of the Clean Water Act that set standards applicable to cooling water intake structures for the protection of aquatic organisms. The proposed regulations would require existing large power plants and manufacturing facilities that withdraw greater than 25 percent of water from adjacent water bodies for cooling purposes, and have a design intake flow of greater than 2 million gallons per day, to limit the number of aquatic organisms that are killed when they are pinned against the facility’s intake structure or that are drawn into the facility’s cooling system. The Section 316(b) standards would be implemented through NPDES permits issued to the covered facilities. The Section 316(b) proposed rule comment period ended in August 2011, and the EPA has announced its intention to issue the final rule by May 16, 2014. We are unable to predict the compliance costs we might incur under the final rule; however, the costs could be material. We would seek recovery of any additional costs through cost recovery riders or in a general rate case.

Steam Electric Power Generating Effluent Guidelines. In April 2013, the EPA announced proposed revisions to the federal effluent guidelines for steam electric power generating stations under the Clean Water Act. Instead of proposing a single rule, the EPA proposed eight “options,” of which four are “preferred”. The proposed revisions would set limits on the level of toxic materials in wastewater discharged from seven waste streams: flue gas desulfurization wastewater, fly ash transport water, bottom ash transport water, combustion residual leachate, non-chemical metal cleaning wastes, coal gasification wastewater, and wastewater from flue gas mercury control systems. As part of this proposed rulemaking, the EPA is considering imposing rules to address “legacy” wastewater currently residing in ponds as well as rules to impose stringent best management practices for discharges from active coal combustion residual surface impoundments. The EPA’s proposed rulemaking would base effluent limitations on what can be achieved by available technologies. The proposed rule was published in the Federal Register in June 2013, with public comments due in September 2013. The EPA has agreed to issue the final rule by September 30, 2015. Compliance with the final rule, as proposed, would be required no later than July 1, 2022. We are reviewing the proposed rule and evaluating its potential impacts on our operations. We are unable to predict the compliance costs we might incur related to these or other potential future water discharge regulations; however, the costs could be material, including costs associated with retrofits for bottom ash handling, pond dewatering, pond closure, and wastewater treatment and/or reuse. We would seek recovery of any additional costs through cost recovery riders or in a general rate case.

Solid and Hazardous Waste. The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 regulates the management and disposal of solid and hazardous wastes. We are required to notify the EPA of hazardous waste activity and, consequently, routinely submit the necessary reports to the EPA.

ALLETE First Quarter 2014 Form 10-Q
32

NOTE 15. COMMITMENTS, GUARANTEES AND CONTINGENCIES (Continued)
Environmental Matters (Continued)

Coal Ash Management Facilities. Minnesota Power generates coal ash at all five of its coal-fired electric generating facilities. Two facilities store ash in onsite impoundments (ash ponds) with engineered liners and containment dikes. Another facility stores dry ash in a landfill with an engineered liner and leachate collection system. Two facilities generate a combined wood and coal ash that is either land applied as an approved beneficial use or trucked to state permitted landfills. In June 2010, the EPA proposed regulations for coal combustion residuals generated by the electric utility sector. The proposal sought comments on three general regulatory schemes for coal ash. The EPA has committed to determine whether or not a final rule will be issued under Subtitle D of Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) (non-hazardous) or Subtitle C of RCRA (hazardous) by December 19, 2014, and may publish the final rule at that time, or announce its schedule for such publication. We are unable to predict the compliance costs we might incur; however, the costs could be material. We would seek recovery of any additional costs through cost recovery riders or in a general rate case.

Other Matters

BNI Coal. As of March 31, 2014, BNI Coal had surety bonds outstanding of $29.9 million related to the reclamation liability for closing costs associated with its mine and mine facilities. Although the coal supply agreements obligate the customers to provide for the closing costs, additional assurance is required by federal and state regulations. In addition to the surety bonds, BNI Coal has secured a letter of credit with CoBANK ACB for an additional $2.6 million to provide for BNI Coal’s total reclamation liability, which is currently estimated at $32.5 million. BNI Coal does not believe it is likely that any of these outstanding surety bonds or the letter of credit will be drawn upon.

ALLETE Properties. As of March 31, 2014, ALLETE Properties, through its subsidiaries, had surety bonds outstanding and letters of credit to governmental entities totaling $10.2 million primarily related to development and maintenance obligations for various projects. The estimated cost of the remaining development work is approximately $7.4 million. ALLETE Properties does not believe it is likely that any of these outstanding surety bonds or letters of credit will be drawn upon.

Community Development District Obligations. In March 2005, the Town Center District issued $26.4 million of tax-exempt, 6 percent capital improvement revenue bonds and in May 2006, the Palm Coast Park District issued $31.8 million of tax-exempt, 5.7 percent special assessment bonds. The capital improvement revenue bonds and the special assessment bonds are payable over 31 years (by May 1, 2036 and 2037, respectively) and are secured by special assessments on the benefited land. The bond proceeds were used to pay for the construction of a portion of the major infrastructure improvements in each district and to mitigate traffic and environmental impacts. The assessments were billed to the landowners beginning in November 2006 for Town Center and November 2007 for Palm Coast Park. To the extent that we still own land at the time of the assessment, we will incur the cost of our portion of these assessments, based upon our ownership of benefited property. At March 31, 2014, we owned 73 percent of the assessable land in the Town Center District (73 percent at December 31, 2013) and 93 percent of the assessable land in the Palm Coast Park District (93 percent at December 31, 2013). At these ownership levels, our annual assessments are approximately $1.4 million for Town Center and $2.1 million for Palm Coast Park. As we sell property, the obligation to pay special assessments will pass to the new landowners. In accordance with accounting guidance, these bonds are not reflected as debt on our Consolidated Balance Sheet.

ALLETE Clean Energy. In January 2014, ALLETE Clean Energy acquired three wind energy facilities–Lake Benton, Storm Lake and Condon–from AES. All three wind energy facilities have PPAs in place for their entire output, which expire in various years between 2019 and 2032. (See Note 4. Acquisition.)

Bonneville Power Administration (Bonneville). Condon has entered into a long-term PPA with Bonneville. Under this agreement, Bonneville has the right and obligation to purchase the output of the facility through September 2022. The agreement contains a fixed price per MWh which is adjusted annually for inflation.
Northern States Power Company (NSP). Lake Benton has entered into a long-term PPA with NSP where NSP purchases the output and capacity of the facility through June 2028. The agreement includes a fixed price per MWh, subject to a curtailment provision and scheduled price changes.
Interstate Power and Light Company (IPL). Storm Lake has entered into two long-term PPAs with IPL through April 2019 and June 2032, respectively. Under these agreements, IPL purchases approximately 219,000 and 26,000 MWh of energy, respectively, which in the aggregate is the expected annual output of the facility. Both PPAs have fixed prices per MWh throughout the contract terms, subject to scheduled price changes.

ALLETE First Quarter 2014 Form 10-Q
33

NOTE 15. COMMITMENTS, GUARANTEES AND CONTINGENCIES (Continued)

Legal Proceedings.

United Taconite Lawsuit. In January 2011, the Company was named as a defendant in a lawsuit in the Sixth Judicial District for the State of Minnesota by one of our customer’s (United Taconite, LLC) property and business interruption insurers. In October 2006, United Taconite experienced a fire as a result of the failure of certain electrical protective equipment. The equipment at issue in the incident was not owned, designed, or installed by Minnesota Power, but Minnesota Power had provided testing and calibration services related to the equipment. The lawsuit alleges approximately $20 million in damages related to the fire. In response to a Motion for Summary Judgment by Minnesota Power, the Sixth Judicial District for the State of Minnesota dismissed all of plaintiffs’ claims in an August 2013 order. In October 2013, the plaintiffs’ appealed the decision to the Minnesota Court of Appeals. The Company has filed a response to the appeal and the appeal will be heard by the Minnesota Court of Appeals on May 21, 2014. As of March 31, 2014, a potential loss is not currently probable or reasonably estimable.

Notice of Potential Clean Air Act Citizen Lawsuit. In July 2013, the Sierra Club submitted to Minnesota Power a notice of intent to file a citizen suit under the Clean Air Act, which it supplemented in March 2014. This notice of intent alleged violations of opacity and other permit requirements at our Boswell, Laskin, and Taconite Harbor energy centers. Minnesota Power intends to vigorously defend any lawsuit that may be filed by the Sierra Club. We are unable to predict the outcome of this matter. Accordingly, an accrual related to any damages that may result from the notice of intent has not been recorded as of March 31, 2014, because a potential loss is not currently probable or reasonably estimable.

Other. We are involved in litigation arising in the normal course of business. Also in the normal course of business, we are involved in tax, regulatory and other governmental audits, inspections, investigations and other proceedings that involve state and federal taxes, safety, and compliance with regulations, rate base and cost of service issues, among other things. We do not expect the outcome of these matters to have a material effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.


ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

OVERVIEW

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and notes to those statements, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations from the 2013 Form 10-K and the other financial information appearing elsewhere in this report. In addition to historical information, the following discussion and other parts of this Form 10-Q contain forward-looking information that involves risks and uncertainties. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements should be read in conjunction with our disclosures in this Form 10-Q under the headings: “Forward-Looking Statements” located on page 6 and “Risk Factors” located in Part I, Item 1A, beginning on page 28 of our 2013 Form 10‑K. The risks and uncertainties described in this Form 10-Q and our 2013 Form 10-K are not the only risks facing our Company. Additional risks and uncertainties that we are not presently aware of, or that we currently consider immaterial, may also affect our business operations. Our business, financial condition or results of operations could suffer if the risks are realized.

Regulated Operations includes our regulated utilities, Minnesota Power and SWL&P, as well as our investment in ATC, a Wisconsin-based regulated utility that owns and maintains electric transmission assets in parts of Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota and Illinois. Minnesota Power provides regulated utility electric service in northeastern Minnesota to approximately 144,000 retail customers. Minnesota Power’s non-affiliated municipal customers consist of 16 municipalities in Minnesota. SWL&P is also a Wisconsin utility and a customer of Minnesota Power. SWL&P provides regulated electric, natural gas and water service in northwestern Wisconsin to approximately 15,000 electric customers, 12,000 natural gas customers and 10,000 water customers. Our regulated utility operations include retail and wholesale activities under the jurisdiction of state and federal regulatory authorities.

Investments and Other is comprised primarily of BNI Coal, our coal mining operations in North Dakota, ALLETE Properties, our Florida real estate investment, and ALLETE Clean Energy, our business which acquired three wind energy facilities in January 2014, and is aimed at developing or acquiring capital projects that create energy solutions via wind, solar, biomass, midstream gas and oil infrastructure, among other energy-related projects. This segment also includes other business development and corporate expenditures, unallocated interest expense, a small amount of non-rate base generation, approximately 5,000 acres of land in Minnesota, and earnings on cash and investments.


ALLETE First Quarter 2014 Form 10-Q
34

OVERVIEW (Continued)

ALLETE is incorporated under the laws of Minnesota. Our corporate headquarters are in Duluth, Minnesota. Statistical information is presented as of March 31, 2014, unless otherwise indicated. All subsidiaries are wholly-owned unless otherwise specifically indicated. References in this report to “we,” “us” and “our” are to ALLETE and its subsidiaries, collectively.

Financial Overview

The following net income discussion summarizes a comparison of the quarter ended March 31, 2014, to the quarter ended March 31, 2013.

Net income attributable to ALLETE for the quarter ended March 31, 2014, was $33.5 million, or $0.80 per diluted share, compared to $32.5 million, or $0.83 per diluted share, for the same period of 2013. Net income for 2014 included $1.4 million after-tax, or $0.03 per share, of acquisition costs for ALLETE Clean Energy’s wind energy facilities acquisition which closed on January 30, 2014 (see Note 4. Acquisitions). Net income for 2014 also reflected higher kWh sales, gas sales, cost recovery rider revenue and transmission margins, partially offset by higher operating and maintenance, depreciation and interest expenses. Earnings per share dilution was $0.06 due to additional shares of common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2014.

Regulated Operations net income attributable to ALLETE was $33.9 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2014, compared to $32.1 million for the same period of 2013. Net income for 2014 reflected higher kWh sales, gas sales, cost recovery rider revenue and transmission margins, partially offset by higher operating and maintenance, depreciation and interest expenses.

Investments and Other net loss attributable to ALLETE was $0.4 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2014, compared to $0.4 million of net income for the same period of 2013. The net loss in 2014 included $1.4 million after-tax, or $0.03 per share, of acquisition costs for ALLETE Clean Energy’s wind energy facilities acquisition. Earnings from ALLETE Clean Energy’s wind energy facilities acquisition were partially offset by gains on sales of investments in 2013. ALLETE Properties recorded a net loss of $0.9 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2014 (net loss of $1.1 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2013). BNI Coal recorded net income of $1.5 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2014 ($1.5 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2013).

COMPARISON OF THE QUARTERS ENDED MARCH 31, 2014 AND 2013

(See Note 2. Business Segments for financial results by segment.)

Regulated Operations

Operating revenue increased $22.8 million, or 9 percent, from 2013 primarily due to a 3.2 percent increase in kWh sales and higher gas sales, transmission revenue, fuel adjustment clause recoveries and cost recovery rider revenue.

Revenue from Regulated Operations increased $12.3 million due to a 3.2 percent increase in kWh sales. Sales to our residential and commercial customers increased 12.4 percent and 4.8 percent, respectively, primarily due to unseasonably cold temperatures during the first quarter of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013. Heating degree days in Duluth, Minnesota were approximately 16 percent higher in 2014 than 2013. Sales to Other Power Suppliers are sold at market-based prices into the MISO market on a daily basis or through bilateral agreements of various durations, and were 18.4 percent higher in 2014 due to more energy available for sale. These increases were partially offset by decreased kWh sales to our industrial and municipal customers compared to 2013. Sales to our industrial customers were 1.6 percent lower as unseasonably cold temperatures during the first quarter of 2014 adversely affected our taconite customers. The decrease in sales to our municipal customers reflects a wholesale customer contract expiration effective December 31, 2013.

ALLETE First Quarter 2014 Form 10-Q
35

COMPARISON OF THE QUARTERS ENDED MARCH 31, 2014 AND 2013 (Continued)
Regulated Operations (Continued)

Kilowatt-hours Sold
 
 
 
 
Quantity
 
%
Quarter Ended March 31,
2014
 
2013
 
Variance
 
Variance
Millions
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Regulated Utility
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Retail and Municipals
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential
398

 
354

 
44

 
12.4
 %
Commercial
395

 
377

 
18

 
4.8
 %
Industrial
1,816

 
1,845

 
(29
)
 
(1.6
)%
Municipals
242

 
274

 
(32
)
 
(11.7
)%
Total Retail and Municipals
2,851

 
2,850

 
1

 
—

Other Power Suppliers
700

 
591

 
109

 
18.4
 %
Total Regulated Utility Kilowatt-hours Sold
3,551

 
3,441

 
110

 
3.2
 %

Revenue from electric sales to taconite/iron concentrate customers accounted for 22 percent of consolidated operating revenue in 2014 (25 percent in 2013). Revenue from electric sales to paper and pulp mills accounted for 7 percent of consolidated operating revenue in 2014 (8 percent in 2013). Revenue from electric sales to pipelines and other industrials accounted for 6 percent of consolidated operating revenue in 2014 (6 percent in 2013).

Gas sales at SWL&P increased $4.5 million from 2013 as a result of the unseasonably cold weather during the first quarter of 2014. (See Operating Expenses - Operating and Maintenance Expense.)

Transmission revenue increased $3.1 million from 2013 primarily due to the April 2013 commencement of our transmission investment recovery related to the 230 kV transmission system upgrade (see Outlook – Industrial Customers – Nashwauk Public Utilities Commission) and higher MISO Regional Expansion Criteria and Benefits (RECB) revenue related to our investment in CapX2020.

Fuel adjustment clause recoveries increased $1.9 million due to higher fuel and purchased power costs attributable to our retail and municipal customers. (See Operating Expenses – Fuel and Purchased Power Expense.)

Cost recovery rider revenue increased $1.7 million primarily due to higher capital expenditures related to our Bison Wind Energy Center, CapX2020 projects and the Boswell Unit 4 environmental upgrade.

Operating expenses increased $19.7 million, or 10 percent, from 2013.

Fuel and Purchased Power Expense increased $9.7 million, or 11 percent, from 2013 primarily due to higher kWh sales and higher purchased power prices. Fuel and purchased power expense related to our retail and municipal customers is recovered through the fuel adjustment clause. (See Operating Revenue.)

Operating and Maintenance Expense increased $8.0 million, or 10 percent, from 2013 primarily due to higher purchased gas and transmission expense. Purchased gas expenses increased due to higher gas sales in 2014 as a result of the unseasonably cold temperatures during the first quarter of 2014; purchased gas costs are recovered from customers through a purchased gas adjustment clause (see Operating Revenue). Transmission expense increased primarily due to higher MISO RECB expense.

Depreciation Expense increased $2.0 million, or 7 percent, from 2013 reflecting additional property, plant and equipment in service.

Income tax expense increased $1.1 million, or 12 percent, from 2013 primarily due to higher pretax income in 2014.

Investments and Other

Operating revenue increased $9.9 million, from 2013 primarily due to a $7.1 million increase in revenue generated at ALLETE Clean Energy due to the acquisition of three wind energy facilities on January 30, 2014. Also contributing to the increase was a $1.4 million increase in revenue at BNI Coal. BNI Coal, which operates under a cost plus fixed fee contract, recorded higher revenue primarily as a result of higher expenses in 2014. (See Operating Expense.)

ALLETE First Quarter 2014 Form 10-Q
36

COMPARISON OF THE QUARTERS ENDED MARCH 31, 2014 AND 2013 (Continued)
Investments and Other (Continued)

Operating expenses increased $9.1 million, from 2013 primarily due to higher operating and depreciation expenses of $6.1 million as a result of the ALLETE Clean Energy wind energy facilities acquisition on January 30, 2014. Also contributing to the increase were higher expenses of $0.9 million at BNI Coal primarily due to higher fuel costs and repair expenses, which are recovered through the cost-plus contract. (See Operating Revenue.)

Other Income decreased $1.4 million primarily due to gains on sales of investments in 2013.

Income Taxes – Consolidated

For the quarter ended March 31, 2014, the effective tax rate was 20.7 percent (18.8 percent for the quarter ended March 31, 2013). The effective tax rate deviated from the statutory rate of approximately 41 percent primarily due to deductions for AFUDC–Equity, investment tax credits, production tax credits and depletion. (See Note 11. Income Tax Expense.)

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Certain accounting measurements under GAAP involve management’s judgment about subjective factors and estimates, the effects of which are inherently uncertain. Accounting measurements that we believe are most critical to our reported results of operations and financial condition include: regulatory accounting, pension and postretirement health and life actuarial assumptions, impairment of long-lived assets and taxation. These policies are reviewed with the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors on a regular basis and summarized in Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of our 2013 Form 10-K.

OUTLOOK

For additional information see our 2013 Form 10-K.

ALLETE is an energy company committed to earning a financial return that rewards our shareholders, allows for reinvestment in our businesses and sustains growth. The Company has a key long-term objective of achieving minimum average earnings per share growth of 5 percent per year (using 2010 as a base year) and maintaining a competitive dividend payout. To accomplish this, Minnesota Power will continue to pursue customer growth opportunities and cost recovery rider approval for environmental, renewable and transmission investments, as well as work with legislators and regulators to earn a fair rate of return. In addition, ALLETE expects to pursue new energy-centric initiatives that provide long-term earnings growth potential and balance our exposure to global business cycles and changing demand. The new energy-centric pursuits will be in renewable energy, energy transmission and other energy-related infrastructure or infrastructure services.

We believe that, over the long-term, less carbon intensive and more sustainable energy sources will play an increasingly important role in our nation’s energy mix. Minnesota Power has developed renewable resources which will be used to meet regulated renewable supply requirements and is adding another 205 MW at the Bison Wind Energy Center (see Regulated Operations – Renewable Energy). In addition, in 2011, we established ALLETE Clean Energy, a wholly-owned subsidiary of ALLETE. ALLETE Clean Energy operates independently of Minnesota Power to develop or acquire capital projects aimed at creating energy solutions via wind, solar, biomass, midstream gas and oil infrastructure, among other energy-related projects. In January 2014, ALLETE Clean Energy acquired three wind energy facilities with existing long-term PPAs. ALLETE Clean Energy intends to market to electric utilities, cooperatives, municipalities, independent power marketers and large end-users across North America through long-term contracts or other sale arrangements, and will be subject to applicable state and federal regulatory approvals.

We plan to make investments in transmission opportunities that strengthen or enhance the transmission grid or take advantage of our geographical location between sources of renewable energy and end users. This includes the GNTL, the CapX2020 initiative, investments to enhance our own transmission facilities, investments in other transmission assets (individually or in combination with others), and our investment in ATC. Transmission investments could be made by Minnesota Power or a subsidiary of ALLETE. (See Regulated Operations – Transmission.)

ALLETE First Quarter 2014 Form 10-Q
37

OUTLOOK (Continued)

North American energy trends continue to evolve, and may be impacted by emerging technological, environmental, and demand changes. We believe this may create opportunity, and we are exploring investing in other energy-centric businesses related to energy infrastructure and infrastructure services. Our investment criteria focuses on investments with recurring or contractual revenues, differentiated offerings and reasonable barriers to entry. In addition, investments would typically support ALLETE’s investment grade credit metrics and dividend policy.

Regulated Operations. Minnesota Power’s long-term strategy is to be the leading electric energy provider in northeastern Minnesota by providing safe, reliable and cost-competitive electric energy, while complying with environmental permit conditions and renewable requirements. Keeping the cost of energy production competitive enables Minnesota Power to effectively compete in the wholesale power markets and minimizes retail rate increases to help maintain the viability of its customers. As part of maintaining cost competitiveness, Minnesota Power intends to reduce its exposure to possible future carbon and GHG legislation by reshaping its generation portfolio, over time, to reduce its reliance on coal (see Regulated Operations – EnergyForward). We will monitor and review proposed environmental regulations and may challenge those that add considerable cost with limited environmental benefit. Minnesota Power will continue to pursue customer growth opportunities and cost recovery rider approval for environmental, renewable and transmission investments, as well as work with legislators and regulators to earn a fair rate of return. We project that our Regulated Operations will not earn its allowed rate of return in 2014.

Regulatory Matters. Entities within our Regulated Operations segment are under the jurisdiction of the MPUC, the FERC, or the PSCW. See Note 7. Regulatory Matters for discussion of regulatory matters within our Minnesota, FERC, and Wisconsin jurisdictions.

Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. The MPUC has regulatory authority over Minnesota Power’s service area in Minnesota, retail rates, retail services, capital structure, issuance of securities and other matters.

Transmission Cost Recovery Rider. Minnesota Power has an approved cost recovery rider in place for certain transmission investments and expenditures. On November 12, 2013, the MPUC approved Minnesota Power’s updated billing factor which allows Minnesota Power to charge retail customers on a current basis for the costs of constructing certain transmission facilities plus a return on the capital invested. We filed a petition on April 24, 2014, to include additional transmission investments and expenditures in customer billing rates.

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Minnesota Power’s non-affiliated municipal customers consist of 16 municipalities in Minnesota. SWL&P, a wholly-owned subsidiary of ALLETE and a Wisconsin utility, is also a customer of Minnesota Power. In April 2014, Minnesota Power amended its formula-based wholesale electric sales agreement with the Nashwauk Public Utilities Commission, extending the term through June 30, 2026. The electric service agreements with the remaining 15 Minnesota municipal customers and SWL&P are effective through June 30, 2019. The rates included in these agreements are set each July 1 based on a cost-based formula methodology, using estimated costs and a rate of return that is equal to our authorized rate of return for Minnesota retail customers (currently 10.38 percent). The formula-based rate methodology also provides for a yearly true-up calculation for actual costs incurred. The contract terms include a termination clause requiring a three-year notice to terminate. Under the Nashwauk Public Utilities Commission agreement, no termination notice may be given prior to July 1, 2023. Under the agreements with the remaining 15 municipal customers and SWL&P, no termination notices may be given prior to June 30, 2016.

Industrial Customers. Electric power is one of several key inputs in the taconite mining, iron concentrate, paper, pulp and wood products, and pipeline industries. Approximately 51 percent of our Regulated Utility kWh sales in the quarter ended March 31, 2014 (54 percent in the quarter ended March 31, 2013) were made to our industrial customers in these industries.

Minnesota Power provides electric service to five taconite customers capable of producing up to approximately 41 million tons of taconite pellets annually. Taconite pellets produced in Minnesota are primarily shipped to North American steel making facilities that are part of the integrated steel industry. Steel produced from these North American facilities is used primarily in the manufacture of automobiles, appliances, pipe and tube products for the gas and oil industry, and in the construction industry. Historically, less than five percent of Minnesota taconite production is exported outside of North America.

ALLETE First Quarter 2014 Form 10-Q
38

OUTLOOK (Continued)
Regulated Operations (Continued)

There has been a general historical correlation between U.S. steel production and Minnesota taconite production. The World Steel Association, an association of approximately 170 steel producers, national and regional steel industry associations, and steel research institutes representing around 85 percent of world steel production, projected U.S. steel consumption in 2014 will be similar to 2013. The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), an association of North American steel producers, reported that U.S. raw steel production operated at approximately 77 percent of capacity during the first quarter of 2014, compared to 77 percent in 2013. Based on these projections, 2014 taconite production levels in Minnesota are expected to be similar to 2013.

Prospective Additional Load. Minnesota Power is pursuing new wholesale and retail loads in and around its service territory. Currently, several companies in northeastern Minnesota continue to progress in the development of natural resource based projects that represent long-term growth potential and load diversity for Minnesota Power. These potential projects are in the ferrous and non-ferrous mining and steel industries and include Essar Steel Minnesota LLC (Essar), PolyMet, Mesabi Nugget Delaware, LLC, USS Corporation’s Keewatin taconite expansion and Magnetation, LLC. We cannot predict the outcome of these projects, but if these projects are constructed, Minnesota Power could serve up to approximately 500 MW of new retail or wholesale load.

Nashwauk Public Utilities Commission. In April 2014, the Company amended its formula-based wholesale electric sales agreement with the Nashwauk Public Utilities Commission for all of its electric service requirements, extending the term through June 30, 2026. A new Essar taconite facility is currently under construction in the City of Nashwauk, and the Nashwauk Public Utilities Commission also amended and extended its electric service agreement with Essar. Upon completion, this facility will result in approximately 110 MW of additional load for Minnesota Power. In April 2014, Essar updated its plans for start-up of the new facility, now indicating that initial commissioning is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2015, transitioning to full production capacity levels by the first quarter of 2016. Expansions for additional pellet production, production of direct reduced iron and production of steel slabs are also being considered by Essar for future years.

PolyMet. Minnesota Power has executed a long-term contract with PolyMet, a new industrial customer planning to start a copper-nickel and precious metal (non-ferrous) mining operation in northeastern Minnesota. PolyMet began work on a Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS) in 2010. The SDEIS addressed environmental issues, including those dealing with the land exchange between PolyMet and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), which is critical to the mine site development. In December 2013, the Minnesota DNR released PolyMet’s SDEIS. A 90-day comment period ended March 13, 2014. Assuming successful completion of the SDEIS process, permits could be issued during the latter part of 2014. Construction could commence immediately upon issuance of permits and Minnesota Power could begin to supply between 45 MW and 50 MW of load initially as early as 2016 through a 10-year power supply contract period that would begin upon start-up of the mining operations.

Magnetation. Magnetation produces iron ore concentrate from low-grade natural ore tailing basins, already mined stockpiles and newly mined iron formations. Magnetation’s facility near Taconite, Minnesota is fully operational. Construction is underway at their newest concentrate facility near Coleraine, Minnesota, with production expected to commence by the end of 2014. On January 27, 2014, Minnesota Power and Magnetation entered into a new ten-year electric service agreement, which was subsequently approved by the MPUC on May 1, 2014, for its facility near Coleraine, Minnesota. This agreement will be effective June 1, 2014 through at least December 31, 2025. In addition, a transmission service extension is required to be constructed by Minnesota Power and is expected to be complete in the fourth quarter of 2014. Minnesota Power expects to supply approximately 20 MW of power to this new facility, making it a Large Power Customer of Minnesota Power. The new facility is expected to supply iron ore concentrate to Magnetation’s new pellet plant that is under construction in Reynolds, Indiana. The Reynolds pellet plant is expected to come on line in the second half of 2014 and will produce about 3 million tons of taconite pellets annually for AK Steel.



ALLETE First Quarter 2014 Form 10-Q
39

OUTLOOK (Continued)
Regulated Operations (Continued)

EnergyForward. In January 2013, Minnesota Power announced “EnergyForward”, a strategic plan for assuring reliability, protecting affordability and further improving environmental performance. The plan includes completed and planned investments in wind and hydroelectric power, the addition of natural gas as a generation fuel source, and the installation of emissions control technology. Significant elements of the “EnergyForward” plan include:

•
Major wind investments in North Dakota. Our Bison Wind Energy Center has 292 MW of nameplate capacity with an additional 205 MW under construction (see Renewable Energy).
•
Planned installation of approximately $310 million in emissions control technology at our Boswell Unit 4 to further reduce emissions of SO2, particulates and mercury (see Boswell Mercury Emission Reduction Plan).
•
Planning for the proposed GNTL to deliver hydroelectric power from northern Manitoba by 2020 (see Transmission).
•
The conversion of Laskin from coal to cleaner-burning natural gas in 2015.
•
Retiring Taconite Harbor Unit 3, one of three coal-fired units at Taconite Harbor, in 2015.

Our “EnergyForward” initiatives were included in Minnesota Power’s 2013 Integrated Resource Plan, which was approved by the MPUC in an order dated November 12, 2013. (See Integrated Resource Plan).

Boswell Mercury Emissions Reduction Plan. Minnesota Power is implementing a mercury emissions reduction project for Boswell Unit 4 in order to comply with the Minnesota Mercury Emissions Reduction Act and the Federal MATS rule. In August 2012, Minnesota Power filed its mercury emissions reduction plan for Boswell Unit 4 with the MPUC and the MPCA. The plan proposes that Minnesota Power install pollution controls by early 2016 to address both the Minnesota mercury emissions reduction requirements and the Federal MATS rule. Costs to implement the Boswell Unit 4 mercury emissions reduction plan are included in the estimated capital expenditures required for compliance with the MATS rule and are estimated to be approximately $310 million, of which $77.0 million was spent through March 31, 2014. On November 5, 2013, the MPUC issued an order approving the Boswell Unit 4 mercury emissions reduction plan and cost recovery, establishing an environmental improvement rider. On November 25, 2013, environmental intervenors filed a petition for reconsideration with the MPUC which was subsequently denied in an order dated January 17, 2014. On December 20, 2013, Minnesota Power filed a petition with the MPUC to establish customer billing rates for the approved environmental improvement rider based on actual and estimated investments and expenditures, which is expected to be approved in mid-2014.

Renewable Energy. In February 2007, Minnesota enacted a law requiring 25 percent of Minnesota Power’s total retail and municipal energy sales in Minnesota to be from renewable energy sources by 2025. The law also requires Minnesota Power to meet interim milestones of 12 percent by 2012, 17 percent by 2016 and 20 percent by 2020. The law allows the MPUC to modify or delay meeting a milestone if implementation will cause significant ratepayer cost or technical reliability issues. If a utility is not in compliance with a milestone, the MPUC may order the utility to construct facilities, purchase renewable energy or purchase renewable energy credits. Minnesota Power met the 2012 milestone and has developed a plan to meet the future renewable milestones which is included in its 2013 Integrated Resource Plan. Minnesota Power’s 2013 Integrated Resource Plan, which was approved by the MPUC in an order dated November 12, 2013, included an update on its plans and progress in meeting the Minnesota renewable energy milestones through 2025. (See EnergyForward.)

Minnesota Power continues to execute its renewable energy strategy through key renewable projects that will ensure we meet the identified state mandate at the lowest cost for customers. We expect 19 percent of the Company’s total retail and municipal energy sales will be supplied by renewable energy sources in 2014.

Wind Energy. Our wind energy facilities consist of the 292 MW Bison Wind Energy Center located in North Dakota and the 25 MW Taconite Ridge Energy Center located in northeastern Minnesota. We also have two long-term wind PPAs with an affiliate of NextEra Energy, Inc. to purchase the output from Oliver Wind I (50 MW) and Oliver Wind II (48 MW) located in North Dakota. We have also commenced construction of Bison 4, a 205 MW wind project in North Dakota, which is an addition to our Bison Wind Energy Center. The total project investment for Bison 4 is estimated to be approximately $345 million, of which $187.1 million was spent through March 31, 2014. The Bison 4 wind project is expected to be completed by the end of 2014.

Customer billing rates for our Bison Wind Energy Center were approved by the MPUC in an order dated December 3, 2013. On January 17, 2014, the MPUC approved Minnesota Power’s petition seeking cost recovery for investments and expenditures related to Bison 4. We included Bison 4 as part of our renewable resources rider factor filing along with the Company’s other renewable projects in a filing on April 29, 2014, which, upon approval, will authorize updated rates to be included on customer bills.


ALLETE First Quarter 2014 Form 10-Q
40

OUTLOOK (Continued)
Regulated Operations (Continued)

Minnesota Power uses the 465-mile, 250 kV DC transmission line that runs from Center, North Dakota, to Duluth, Minnesota to transport increasing amounts of wind energy from North Dakota while gradually phasing out coal-based electricity delivered to our system over this transmission line from Square Butte’s lignite coal-fired generating unit. The DC transmission line capacity can be increased if renewable energy or transmission needs justify investments to upgrade the line.

Manitoba Hydro. Minnesota Power has a long-term PPA with Manitoba Hydro that expires in May 2015. Under this agreement Minnesota Power is purchasing 50 MW of capacity and the energy associated with that capacity. Both the capacity price and the energy price are adjusted annually by the change in a governmental inflationary index. In addition, Minnesota Power has a separate long-term PPA with Manitoba Hydro to purchase surplus energy through April 2022. This energy-only agreement primarily consists of surplus hydro energy on Manitoba Hydro’s system that is delivered to Minnesota Power on a non-firm basis. The pricing is based on forward market prices. Under this agreement, Minnesota Power will purchase at least one million MWh of energy over the contract term.

In May 2011, Minnesota Power and Manitoba Hydro signed an additional long-term PPA. The PPA provides for Manitoba Hydro to sell 250 MW of capacity and energy to Minnesota Power for 15 years beginning in 2020. The agreement is subject to construction of additional transmission capacity between Manitoba and the U.S., along with construction of new hydroelectric generating capacity in Manitoba. The capacity price is adjusted annually until 2020 by a change in a governmental inflationary index. The energy price is based on a formula that includes an annual fixed price component adjusted for a change in a governmental inflationary index and a natural gas index, as well as market prices. (See Transmission.)

Hydro Operations. In June 2012, record rainfall and flooding occurred near Duluth, Minnesota and surrounding areas. The flooding impacted Minnesota Power’s St. Louis River hydro system, particularly the Thomson Energy Center (Thomson), which had damage to the forebay canal and flooding at the facility. Minnesota Power worked closely with the appropriate regulatory bodies which oversee the hydro system operations, including dams and reservoirs, to restore the Thomson facility and to rebuild the forebay embankment. Minnesota Power continues restoration and upgrade work at the Thomson facility and completed rebuilding the forebay embankment. Minnesota Power anticipates partial generation at the Thomson Energy Center in the second quarter of 2014. Work is ongoing toward returning to full generation late in 2014 and improving the spillway capacity at the Thomson dam in 2015. Total project costs are estimated to be approximately $90 million, of which $66.4 million was spent through March 31, 2014. A request seeking cost recovery of capital expenditures related to the restoration and repair of the Thomson facility through a renewable resources rider is expected to be filed with the MPUC in 2014.

Minnesota Solar Mandate. In May 2013, legislation was enacted by the state of Minnesota requiring at least 1.5 percent of total retail electric sales, excluding sales to certain industrial customers, to be generated by solar energy by the end of 2020. At least ten percent of the 1.5 percent mandate must be met by solar energy generated by or procured from solar photovoltaic devices with a nameplate capacity of 20 kilowatts or less. Minnesota Power is in the process of evaluating the potential impact of this legislation on our operations; however, any investment is expected to be recovered in customer rates.

Integrated Resource Plan. In an order dated November 12, 2013, the MPUC approved Minnesota Power’s 2013 Integrated Resource Plan which details our “EnergyForward” strategic plan (see EnergyForward), and includes an analysis of a variety of existing and future energy resource alternatives and a projection of customer cost impact by class.

Transmission. We plan to make investments in transmission opportunities that strengthen or enhance the transmission grid or take advantage of our geographical location between sources of renewable energy and end users. These include the GNTL and the CapX2020 initiative, as well as investments to enhance our own transmission facilities, investments in other transmission assets (individually or in combination with others), and our investment in ATC.

CapX2020. Minnesota Power is a participant in the CapX2020 initiative which represents an effort to ensure electric transmission and distribution reliability in Minnesota and the surrounding region for the future. CapX2020, which consists of electric cooperatives, municipal and investor-owned utilities, including Minnesota’s largest transmission owners, has assessed the transmission system and projected growth in customer demand for electricity through 2020. Studies show that the region’s transmission system will require major upgrades and expansion to accommodate increased electricity demand as well as support renewable energy expansion through 2020.

ALLETE First Quarter 2014 Form 10-Q
41

OUTLOOK (Continued)
Regulated Operations (Continued)

Minnesota Power is currently participating in the construction of one CapX2020 transmission line project. Minnesota Power also participated in two CapX2020 projects which were previously completed and placed into service in 2011 and 2012. In June 2011, the MPUC approved the route permit for the Minnesota portion of the Fargo to St. Cloud project, which is currently under construction and expected to be in service by 2015. The North Dakota permitting process was completed in August 2012.
Based on projected costs of the three transmission line projects and the allocation agreements among participating utilities, in total, Minnesota Power plans to invest between $100 million and $110 million in the CapX2020 initiative through 2015, of which $85.7 million was spent through March 31, 2014. As future CapX2020 projects are identified, Minnesota Power may elect to participate on a project-by-project basis.
Great Northern Transmission Line (GNTL). As a condition of the long-term PPA signed in May 2011 with Manitoba Hydro, construction of additional transmission capacity is required. As a result, Minnesota Power and Manitoba Hydro proposed construction of the GNTL, an approximately 220-mile 500 kV transmission line between Manitoba and Minnesota’s Iron Range in order to strengthen the electric grid, enhance regional reliability and promote a greater exchange of sustainable energy.

The GNTL is subject to various federal and state regulatory approvals. Before a large energy facility can be sited or constructed in Minnesota, the MPUC requires a Certificate of Need, which was filed in October 2013. In an order dated January 8, 2014, the MPUC determined the Certificate of Need application was complete and referred the docket to an administrative law judge for a contested case proceeding. On April 15, 2014, Minnesota Power filed a route permit application with the MPUC and a request for a presidential permit to cross the U.S.-Canadian border with the U.S. Department of Energy. Manitoba Hydro must also obtain regulatory and governmental approvals related to new transmission lines and hydroelectric generation development in Canada. Upon receipt of all applicable permits and approvals, construction is anticipated to begin in 2016, and to be completed in 2020. Total project cost in the U.S., including substation work, is estimated to be between $500 million and $650 million, depending on the final route of the line. Minnesota Power will have majority ownership of the transmission line.

Investment in ATC. As of March 31, 2014, our equity investment in ATC was $116.6 million, representing an approximate 8 percent ownership interest. ATC rates are based on a FERC approved 12.2 percent return on common equity dedicated to utility plant. In September 2013, ATC updated its 10-year transmission assessment covering the years 2013 through 2022 which identifies a need for between $3.0 and $3.6 billion in transmission system investments. These investments by ATC are expected to be funded through a combination of internally generated cash, debt and investor contributions. As opportunities arise, we plan to make additional investments in ATC through general capital calls based upon our pro rata ownership interest in ATC. In the first three months of 2014, we invested $1.2 million in ATC, and on April 29, 2014, we invested an additional $1.2 million. We expect to make additional investments of approximately $3.4 million in 2014. (See Note 8. Investment in ATC.)

Investments and Other

BNI Coal. BNI Coal anticipates selling approximately 4.5 million tons of coal in 2014 (3.7 million tons were sold in 2013) and has sold 1.1 million tons through March 31, 2014 (1.1 million tons were sold as of March 31, 2013). BNI Coal operates under cost plus fixed fee agreements extending to May 1, 2027. On April 22, 2014, BNI Coal extended these agreements through December 31, 2037.

ALLETE Properties. ALLETE Properties represents our Florida real estate investment. Our current strategy for the assets is to complete and maintain key entitlements and infrastructure improvements without requiring significant additional investment, sell the portfolio when opportunities arise and reinvest the proceeds in our growth initiatives. Market conditions can impact land sales and could result in our inability to cover our operating expenses and fixed carrying costs such as community development district assessments and property taxes. ALLETE does not intend to acquire additional Florida real estate.

Our two major development projects are Town Center and Palm Coast Park. Another major project, Ormond Crossings, is in the permitting stage. The City of Ormond Beach, Florida, approved a development agreement for Ormond Crossings which will facilitate development of the project as currently planned. Separately, the Lake Swamp wetland mitigation bank was permitted on land that was previously part of Ormond Crossings.

ALLETE First Quarter 2014 Form 10-Q
42

OUTLOOK (Continued)
Investments and Other (Continued)

Summary of Development Projects (100% Owned)
 
 
 
Residential
 
Non-residential
Land Available-for-Sale
 
Acres (a)
 
Units (b)
 
Sq. Ft. (b, c)
Current Development Projects
 
 
 
 
 
 
Town Center
 
964

 
2,485

 
2,236,700

Palm Coast Park
 
3,777

 
3,554

 
3,096,800

Total Current Development Projects
 
4,741

 
6,039

 
5,333,500

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Planned Development Project
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ormond Crossings
 
2,914

 
2,950

 
3,215,000

Other
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lake Swamp Wetland Mitigation Project
 
3,044

 
(d)

 
(d)

Total of Development Projects
 
10,699

 
8,989

 
8,548,500

(a)
Acreage amounts are approximate and shown on a gross basis, including wetlands.
(b)
Units and square footage are estimated. Density at build out may differ from these estimates.
(c)
Depending on the project, non-residential includes retail commercial, non-retail commercial, office, industrial, warehouse, storage and institutional.
(d)
The Lake Swamp wetland mitigation bank is a permitted, regionally significant wetlands mitigation bank. Wetland mitigation credits will be used at Ormond Crossings and are available-for-sale to developers of other projects that are located in the bank’s service area.

In addition to the three development projects and the mitigation bank, ALLETE Properties has 1,715 acres of other land available-for-sale.

ALLETE Clean Energy. ALLETE Clean Energy aims to develop or acquire capital projects that create energy solutions via wind, solar, biomass, midstream gas and oil infrastructure, among other energy-related projects. On January 30, 2014, ALLETE Clean Energy acquired wind energy facilities located in Lake Benton, Minnesota (Lake Benton), Storm Lake, Iowa (Storm Lake) and Condon, Oregon (Condon) from The AES Corporation (AES) for $26.9 million, subject to a working capital adjustment. ALLETE Clean Energy also has an option to acquire a fourth wind energy facility from AES in Armenia Mountain, Pennsylvania (Armenia Mountain), in June 2015. The acquisition supports ALLETE’s strategy to pursue energy-centric initiatives through ALLETE Clean Energy, that include less carbon intensive and more sustainable energy sources.

Lake Benton, Storm Lake and Condon have 104 MW, 77 MW and 50 MW of generating capability, respectively. Lake Benton and Storm Lake began commercial operations in 1999, while Condon began operations in 2002. All three wind energy facilities have PPAs in place for their entire output, which expire in various years between 2019 and 2032. Pursuant to the acquisition agreement, ALLETE Clean Energy has an option to acquire the 101 MW Armenia Mountain wind energy facility in June 2015. Armenia Mountain began operations in 2009. (See Note 4. Acquisitions.)

Income Taxes. ALLETE’s aggregate federal and multi-state statutory tax rate is approximately 41 percent for 2014. On an ongoing basis, ALLETE has tax credits and other tax adjustments that reduce the statutory rate to the effective tax rate. These tax credits and adjustments historically have included items such as investment tax credits, renewable tax credits, AFUDC–Equity, depletion, as well as other items. The annual effective rate can also be impacted by such items as changes in income from operations before non-controlling interest and income taxes, state and federal tax law changes that become effective during the year, business combinations and configuration changes, tax planning initiatives and resolution of prior years’ tax matters. Due primarily to increased federal production tax credits as a result of wind generation, we expect our effective tax rate to be approximately 22 percent for 2014. We also expect that our effective tax rate will be lower than the statutory rate over the next ten years due to production tax credits attributable to our wind generation. (See Note 11. Income Tax Expense.)

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Liquidity Position. ALLETE is well-positioned to meet the Company’s liquidity needs. As of March 31, 2014, we had cash and cash equivalents of $44.6 million, $401 million in available consolidated lines of credit and a debt-to-capital ratio of 46 percent.


ALLETE First Quarter 2014 Form 10-Q
43

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES (Continued)

Capital Structure. ALLETE’s capital structure is as follows:
 
March 31,
2014

 
%
 
December 31,
2013

 
%
Millions
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ALLETE Equity

$1,402.5

 
54
 

$1,342.9

 
55
Non-Controlling Interest
4.9

 
—
 
—

 
—
Long-Term Debt (Including Current Maturities)
1,213.6

 
46
 
1,110.2

 
45
 

$2,621.0

 
100
 

$2,453.1

 
100

Cash Flows. Selected information from ALLETE’s Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows is as follows:
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
2014

 
2013

Millions
 
 
 
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period

$97.3

 

$80.8

Cash Flows from (used for)
 
 
 
Operating Activities
74.9

 
58.2

Investing Activities
(204.6
)
 
(63.9
)
Financing Activities
77.0

 
2.2

Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents
(52.7
)
 
(3.5
)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period

$44.6

 

$77.3


Operating Activities. Cash from operating activities was $74.9 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2014 ($58.2 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2013). Cash from operating activities was higher than 2014 primarily due to cash contributions of $10.8 million in 2013 to other postretirement benefit plans.

Investing Activities. Cash used for investing activities was $204.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2014 ($63.9 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2013). The increase in cash used for investing activities was primarily due to higher capital expenditures in 2014, and the ALLETE Clean Energy wind energy facilities acquisition in January 2014, partially offset by a transfer of cash in Other Investments to Cash and Cash Equivalents.

Financing Activities. Cash from financing activities was $77.0 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2014 ($2.2 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2013). The increase in cash from financing activities was primarily due to proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt in March 2014, partially offset by payments of long-term debt maturing in 2014.

Working Capital. Additional working capital, if and when needed, generally is provided by consolidated bank lines of credit or the sale of securities or commercial paper. As of March 31, 2014, we had available consolidated bank lines of credit aggregating $401.0 million ($401.2 million available as of March 31, 2013), the majority of which expire in November 2018. In addition, as of March 31, 2014, we had 2.4 million original issue shares of our common stock available for issuance through Invest Direct, our direct stock purchase and dividend reinvestment plan, 3.1 million original issue shares of common stock available for issuance through a distribution agreement with Lampert Capital Markets, Inc. and 2.8 million original issue shares of common stock available for issuance under a forward sale agreement (see Securities). The amount and timing of future sales of our securities will depend upon market conditions and our specific needs.

Securities. We entered into a distribution agreement with Lampert Capital Markets, Inc., in February 2008, as amended most recently in February 2014, with respect to the issuance and sale of up to an aggregate of 9.6 million shares of our common stock, without par value, of which 3.1 million remain available for issuance. For the quarter ended March 31, 2014, no shares of common stock were issued under this agreement (0.3 million shares were issued for the quarter ended March 31, 2013, resulting in net proceeds of $11.7 million). The shares sold in 2011, 2012 and through August 1, 2013, were offered and sold pursuant to Registration Statement No. 333-170289. On August 2, 2013, we filed Registration Statement No. 333-190335, pursuant to which the remaining shares will continue to be offered for sale, from time to time.

During the quarter ended March 31, 2014, we issued 0.2 million shares of common stock through Invest Direct, the Employee Stock Purchase Plan, and the Retirement Savings and Stock Ownership Plan, resulting in net proceeds of $4.6 million (0.3 million shares were issued for net proceeds of $11.7 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2013). These shares of common stock were registered under Registration Statement Nos. 333-188315, 333-183051 and 333-162890.

ALLETE First Quarter 2014 Form 10-Q
44

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES (Continued)
Securities (Continued)

On February 26, 2014, ALLETE entered into a confirmation of forward sale agreement (Agreement) with a forward counterparty in connection with a public offering of 2.8 million shares of ALLETE common stock. Pursuant to the Agreement, the forward counterparty (or its affiliate) borrowed 2.8 million shares of ALLETE common stock from third parties and sold them to the underwriters. ALLETE has right to elect physical, cash or net share settlement under the forward sales agreement, for all or a portion of its obligations under the Agreement. In the event that ALLETE elects physical settlement of the Agreement, it will deliver shares of its common stock in exchange for cash proceeds at the then-applicable forward sale price. The forward sale price is initially $48.01 per share, subject to adjustment as provided in the Agreement. The Agreement provides for settlement at any time on or prior to March 1, 2015. ALLETE expect to physically settle the Agreement in its entirety by delivering 2.8 million shares of its common stock. In connection with the public offering of the 2.8 million shares, ALLETE granted the underwriters an option to purchase up to an additional 0.4 million shares of ALLETE common stock (the option shares). The underwriters exercised the option in full and on March 4, 2014, the Company issued and sold the option shares to the underwriters at a price to ALLETE equal to the initial forward sale price for proceeds of $20.2 million.

In December 2013, we agreed to sell $215.0 million in 2014 of ALLETE first mortgage bonds (Bonds) in the private placement market in four series. On March 4, 2014, we issued $100.0 million of the Bonds in the private placement market. (See Note 9. Short-Term and Long-Term Debt.) Proceeds from the sale of the Bonds were, and will be, used to fund utility capital expenditures or for general corporate purposes.

On January 10, 2014, ALLETE contributed 0.4 million shares of ALLETE common stock to its pension plan. These shares of ALLETE common stock were contributed in reliance upon an exemption available pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933 and had an aggregate value of $19.5 million when contributed.

Financial Covenants. See Note 9. Short-Term and Long-Term Debt for information regarding our financial covenants.

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans. Management considers various factors when making funding decisions, such as regulatory requirements, actuarially determined minimum contribution requirements and contributions required to avoid benefit restrictions for the defined benefit pension plans. On January 10, 2014, we contributed $19.5 million to our defined benefit pension plan, all of which was contributed in shares of ALLETE common stock. We do not expect to make additional contributions to our defined benefit pension plan in 2014, and we do not expect to make any contributions to our other postretirement benefit plan in 2014. (See Note 14. Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans.)

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

Off-balance sheet arrangements are summarized in our 2013 Form 10-K, with additional disclosure in Note 15. Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies.

Capital Requirements

Our capital expenditures for 2014 are expected to be approximately $640 million. For the quarter ended March 31, 2014, capital expenditures totaled $195.2 million ($43.1 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2013). The expenditures were primarily made in the Regulated Operations segment.

Our 2014 projected capital expenditures include significant investments in environmental upgrades (see Outlook – Boswell Mercury Emissions Reduction Plan) and renewable energy (see Outlook – Renewable Energy – Wind Energy). Our 2014 capital expenditures are expected to be incurred ratably over the four quarters of 2014. We are well positioned to meet our financing needs due to adequate operating cash flows, available additional working capital, and access to capital markets. We will finance capital expenditures from a combination of internally generated funds and debt and equity issuance proceeds. We intend to maintain a capital structure with capital ratios near current levels. (See Liquidity and Capital Resources – Capital Structure.)



ALLETE First Quarter 2014 Form 10-Q
45

OTHER

Environmental Matters

Our businesses are subject to regulation of environmental matters by various federal, state and local authorities. Due to future restrictive environmental requirements through legislation and/or rulemaking, we anticipate that potential expenditures for environmental matters will be material and will require significant capital investments. Environmental Matters are summarized in our 2013 Form 10-K, with additional disclosure in Note 15. Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies.

Employees

Minnesota Power and SWL&P have an aggregate of 594 employees who are members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 31. Labor agreements expired on January 31, 2014, and on February 5, 2014. Minnesota Power, SWL&P and IBEW Local 31 agreed to amend the current contracts and extend the expiration of both to January 31, 2018.

BNI Coal had 167 employees, of which 126 are members of IBEW Local 1593. The most recent labor agreement between BNI Coal and IBEW Local 1593 expired on March 31, 2014, and on March 19, 2014, a new contract was signed effective April 1, 2014 through March 31, 2019.

NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

New accounting standards are discussed in Note 1. Operations and Significant Accounting Policies.


ITEM 3.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

SECURITIES INVESTMENTS

Available-for-Sale Securities. At March 31, 2014, our available-for-sale securities portfolio consisted primarily of securities established to fund certain employee benefits. (See Note 3. Investments.)

COMMODITY PRICE RISK

Our regulated utility operations incur costs for power and fuel (primarily coal and related transportation) in Minnesota and power and natural gas purchased for resale in our regulated service territory in Wisconsin. Our Minnesota regulated utility’s exposure to price risk for these commodities is significantly mitigated by the current ratemaking process and regulatory framework, which allows recovery of fuel costs in excess of those included in base rates. Conversely, costs below those in base rates result in a credit to our ratepayers. We seek to prudently manage our customers’ exposure to price risk by entering into contracts of various durations and terms for the purchase of power and coal and related transportation costs (Minnesota Power) and natural gas (SWL&P).

POWER MARKETING

Our power marketing activities consist of: (1) purchasing energy in the wholesale market to serve our regulated service territory when energy requirements exceed generation output; and (2) selling excess available energy and purchased power. From time to time, our utility operations may have excess energy that is temporarily not required by retail and municipal customers in our regulated service territory. We actively sell any excess energy to the wholesale market to optimize the value of our generating facilities.

We are exposed to credit risk primarily through our power marketing activities. We use credit policies to manage credit risk, which includes utilizing an established credit approval process and monitoring counterparty limits.


ALLETE First Quarter 2014 Form 10-Q
46

INTEREST RATE RISK

We are exposed to risks resulting from changes in interest rates as a result of our issuance of variable rate debt. We manage our interest rate risk by varying the issuance and maturity dates of our fixed rate debt, limiting the amount of variable rate debt, and continually monitoring the effects of market changes in interest rates. We may also enter into derivative financial instruments, such as interest rate swaps, to mitigate interest rate exposure. Interest rates on variable rate long-term debt are reset on a periodic basis reflecting prevailing market conditions. Based on the variable rate debt outstanding at March 31, 2014, and assuming no other changes to our financial structure, an increase of 100 basis points in interest rates would impact the amount of pretax interest expense by $0.6 million. This amount was determined by considering the impact of a hypothetical 100 basis point increase to the average variable interest rate on the variable rate debt outstanding as of March 31, 2014.


ITEM 4.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures. As of March 31, 2014, evaluations were performed, under the supervision and with the participation of management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of ALLETE’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Exchange Act)). Based upon those evaluations, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that such disclosure controls and procedures are effective to provide assurance that information required to be disclosed in ALLETE’s reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Changes in Internal Controls. There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during our most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.


PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

For information regarding material legal and regulatory proceedings, see Note 5. Regulatory Matters and Note 12. Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies to our Consolidated Financial Statements in the 2013 Form 10-K and Note 7. Regulatory Matters and Note 15. Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies herein. Such information is incorporated herein by reference.

United Taconite Lawsuit. In January 2011, the Company was named as a defendant in a lawsuit in the Sixth Judicial District for the State of Minnesota by one of our customer’s (United Taconite, LLC) property and business interruption insurers. In October 2006, United Taconite experienced a fire as a result of the failure of certain electrical protective equipment. The equipment at issue in the incident was not owned, designed, or installed by Minnesota Power, but Minnesota Power had provided testing and calibration services related to the equipment. The lawsuit alleges approximately $20.0 million in damages related to the fire. In response to a Motion for Summary Judgment by Minnesota Power, the Sixth Judicial District for the State of Minnesota dismissed all of plaintiffs’ claims in an order dated August 21, 2013. In October 2013, the plaintiffs’ appealed the decision to the Minnesota Court of Appeals. The Company has filed a response to the appeal and the appeal will be heard by the Minnesota Court of Appeals on May 21, 2014. An accrual related to this lawsuit has not been recorded as of March 31, 2014, because a potential loss is not currently probable or reasonably estimable.

Notice of Potential Clean Air Act Citizen Lawsuit. In July 2013, the Sierra Club submitted to Minnesota Power a notice of intent to file a citizen suit under the Clean Air Act, which it supplemented in March 2014. This notice of intent alleged violations of opacity and other permit requirements at our Boswell, Laskin, and Taconite Harbor energy centers. Minnesota Power intends to vigorously defend any lawsuit that may be filed by the Sierra Club. We are unable to predict the outcome of this matter. Accordingly, an accrual related to any damages that may result from the notice of intent has not been recorded as of March 31, 2014, because a potential loss is not currently probable or reasonably estimable.


ITEM 1A.  RISK FACTORS

There have been no material changes from the risk factors disclosed in Part 1, Item 1A Risk Factors of our 2013 Form 10-K.

ALLETE First Quarter 2014 Form 10-Q
47

ITEM 2.  UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

None.


ITEM 3.  DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

None.


ITEM 4.  MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act) requires issuers to include in periodic reports filed with the SEC certain information relating to citations or orders for violations of standards under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (Mine Safety Act). Information concerning mine safety violations or other regulatory matters required by Section 1503(a) of the Dodd-Frank Act and this Item are included in Exhibit 95 to this Form 10-Q.


ITEM 5.  OTHER INFORMATION

None.


ITEM 6.  EXHIBITS

Exhibit
Number
 
 
1

 
Amendment No. 3 to Third Amended and Restated Distribution Agreement dated May 7, 2014, between ALLETE, Inc. and Lampert Capital Markets, Inc.
4

 
Thirty-fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 1, 2014, between ALLETE, Inc. and The Bank of New York Mellon, as corporate trustee, and Philip L. Watson, as co-trustee.
10

 
Confirmation of Forward Sale Transaction, dated February 26, 2014, between ALLETE, Inc. and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, London Branch (filed as Exhibit 10 to the March 4, 2014, Current Report on Form 8-K, File No. 1-3548).
31(a)

 
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification by the Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31(b)

 
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification by the Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32

 
Section 1350 Certification of Periodic Report by the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
95

 
Mine Safety
99

 
ALLETE News Release dated May 7, 2014, announcing 2014 first quarter earnings. (This exhibit has been furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.)
101.INS

 
XBRL Instance
101.SCH

 
XBRL Schema
101.CAL

 
XBRL Calculation
101.DEF

 
XBRL Definition
101.LAB

 
XBRL Label
101.PRE

 
XBRL Presentation


ALLETE First Quarter 2014 Form 10-Q
48

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.


 
 
ALLETE, INC.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
May 7, 2014
 
/s/ Steven Q. DeVinck
 
 
Steven Q. DeVinck
 
 
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
May 7, 2014
 
/s/ Steven W. Morris
 
 
Steven W. Morris
 
 
Controller


ALLETE First Quarter 2014 Form 10-Q
49
ALE 3-31-2014 EX 1


Exhibit 1

AMENDMENT NO. 3 TO
THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT



May 7, 2014


Lampert Capital Markets, Inc.
477 Madison Avenue, Ste. 230
New York, NY 10022
Attention: Randy Lampert
& Mark Nauman

Dear Sir:

Reference is hereby made to that certain Third Amended and Restated Distribution Agreement dated August 3, 2012 (the “2012 Agreement”), as amended by Amendment No. 1 to Third Amended and Restated Distribution Agreement dated August 5, 2013 (“Amendment No. 1”) and by an Assignment and Assumption of and Amendment No. 2 to Third Amended and Restated Distribution Agreement dated February 13, 2014 (“Amendment No. 2” and together with Amendment No. 1 and the 2012 Agreement, the “Third Amended Distribution Agreement”) between ALLETE, Inc. (the “Company”) and Lampert Capital Markets, Inc., as successor to KCCI, Ltd., as agent. Such parties desire to amend the Third Amended Distribution Agreement as hereinafter set forth. Accordingly, in consideration of the premises and the agreements, provisions and covenants contained herein, the parties hereto agree to amend the Third Amended Distribution Agreement as set forth below:

I.    Amendments

1.    All references in the Third Amended Distribution Agreement to “this Agreement” (including similar references in the 2012 Agreement such as “herein”) shall now mean the Third Amended Distribution Agreement, as amended by this Amendment No. 3 to the Third Amended and Restated Distribution Agreement (“Amendment No. 3”).

2.    The third paragraph of the 2012 Agreement, as amended by Amendment No. 1 and Amendment No. 2, is further amended by deleting the reference to “the prospectus supplement, to be dated February 18, 2014” in the definition of “Prospectus Supplement” and replacing it with “the prospectus supplement to be dated May 9, 2014”.

3.    Section 2(b) of the 2012 Agreement is amended and restated as follows:

The Purchase Date in respect of the Remaining Shares deliverable pursuant to any Transaction Notice shall occur on the Exchange Business Day next following the date on which such Transaction Notice is accepted if such acceptance occurs by 4:30 P.M. (New York time) on such acceptance date; provided that if a Transaction Notice is accepted prior to 8:30 A.M. (New York time) on an Exchange Business Day (or by such later time as the Company may agree in its sole discretion), the Purchase Date in respect of such Remaining Shares shall be on such date of acceptance. The compensation to Lampert for each Transaction shall be up to one percent (1.0%) of the Gross Sales Price, as mutually agreed



to in writing by the Company and Lampert. The “Net Sales Price” shall be the Gross Sales Price less Lampert’s commission.

4.    Section 3(b) of the 2012 Agreement, as amended by Amendment No. 1 and Amendment No. 2, is further amended and restated as follows:

Prior to the execution of this Agreement, the Company has not, directly or indirectly, offered or sold the Shares contemplated by the Prior Distribution Agreement or this Agreement by means of any “prospectus” (within the meaning of the Act) or used any “prospectus” (within the meaning of the Act) in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares, in each case other than (i) the Prospectus, (ii) the Company’s prospectus supplement, dated February 19, 2008 and accompanying prospectus dated December 10, 2007, (iii) the Company’s prospectus supplement, dated February 27, 2009 and accompanying prospectus dated December 10, 2007, (iv) the Company’s prospectus supplement, dated February 18, 2011 and accompanying prospectus dated November 2, 2010, (v) the Company’s prospectus supplement, dated August 3, 2012 and accompanying prospectus dated November 2, 2010, (vi) the Company’s prospectus supplement, dated August 5, 2013 and accompanying prospectus dated August 2, 2013 and (vii) the Company’s prospectus supplement, dated February 18, 2014 and accompanying prospectus dated August 2, 2013 (the documents specified in clauses (ii) through (vii), collectively, the “Prior Prospectuses”); the Company has not, directly or indirectly, prepared, used or referred to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus except in compliance with Rules 164 and 433 under the Act in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares; and the Company is not an “ineligible issuer” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Act) as of the eligibility determination date for purposes of Rules 164 and 433 under the Act with respect to the offering of the Remaining Shares contemplated by the Registration Statement.

5.    Section 3(d) of the 2012 Agreement, as amended by Amendment No. 1, is amended by deleting the reference to “April 29, 2013” with respect to the existing order of the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission and replacing it with “April 25, 2014”.

6.    Exhibits A, B, C and D to the 2012 Agreement, as amended by Amendment No. 1 and Amendment No. 2, are each amended to include references to Amendment No. 3 and to make the other changes set forth therein, and are restated and set forth in their entirety as Exhibits A, B, C and D, respectively, to Amendment No. 3.

II.    Governing Law; Construction

THIS AMENDMENT NO. 3 SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, INTERPRETED UNDER AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED WITHIN THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS THEREOF. The Section headings in Amendment No. 3 have been inserted as a matter of convenience of reference and are not a part of Amendment No. 3.


2


III.    Counterparts

This Amendment No. 3 may be signed in counterparts (which may include counterparts delivered by any standard form of telecommunication), each of which shall be an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding among ALLETE, Inc. and Lampert Capital Markets, Inc., please so indicate in the space provided below for the purpose, whereupon this letter and your acceptance shall constitute a binding agreement between ALLETE, Inc. and Lampert Capital Markets, Inc.

Very truly yours,

ALLETE, Inc.

By:
/s/ Steven Q. DeVinck
Name:
Steven Q. DeVinck
Title:
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

                            


Accepted and agreed to as of the
date first above written:

Lampert Capital Markets, Inc.

By:
/s/ S. Randy Lampert
Name:
S. Randy Lampert
Title:
Chairman of the Board





3


Exhibit A
TRANSACTION NOTICE

____________, 20__


Lampert Capital Markets, Inc.
477 Madison Avenue, Ste. 230
New York, NY 10022
Attention: Randy Lampert
& Mark Nauman

Reference is made to Third Amended and Restated Distribution Agreement, dated August 3, 2012, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to Third Amended and Restated Distribution Agreement, dated August 5, 2013, by an Assignment and Assumption of and Amendment No. 2 to Third Amended and Restated Distribution Agreement, dated February 13, 2014, and by Amendment No. 3 to Third Amended and Restated Distribution Agreement, dated May 7, 2014 between ALLETE, Inc. (the “Company”) and Lampert Capital Markets, Inc., as successor to KCCI, Ltd., as agent. The Company confirms that all conditions to the delivery of this Transaction Notice are satisfied as of the date hereof.

Purchase Date (determined pursuant to Section 2(a)): ________________.
Settlement Date
 
Specified Number of Shares (maximum)
 
Limit Price
$
Fee/Commission
$

Floor Price (Adjustable by Company): $____ per share.


Comments: ___________________________________________________________________.

ALLETE, Inc.

By: __________________________
Its: _________________________

ACCEPTED BY:

Lampert Capital Markets, Inc.


By: __________________________
Its: _________________________








Exhibit B
ALLETE, Inc.
Duluth, Minnesota
CERTIFICATE
[Date]
ALLETE, Inc. (the “Company”) hereby certifies that on the date hereof:
1.To the best of the knowledge of the officer executing this certificate, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement is in effect; no order of the Commission directed to the adequacy of any Incorporated Document is in effect; no proceedings for either such purpose are pending before, or to the knowledge of the Company threatened by, the Commission; and no notice of objection by the Commission to the use of the Registration Statement or any post‑effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Act has been received by the Company and not removed.

2.There has been issued and is in full force and effect an order of the MPUC dated _____________ with respect to the petition filed by the Company with the MPUC seeking approval of the Company’s capital structure and authorization to issue the Remaining Shares.

3.Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and up to the date hereof, there has not been any change in the business, properties or assets or the results of operations, condition (financial or otherwise), business or operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, that would have, or would reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect.

4.All of the obligations of the Company set forth in the Third Amended and Restated Distribution Agreement, dated August 3, 2012, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to Third Amended and Restated Distribution Agreement, dated August 5, 2013, by an Assignment and Assumption of and Amendment No. 2 to Third Amended and Restated Distribution Agreement, dated February 13, 2014, and by Amendment No. 3 to Third Amended and Restated Distribution Agreement, dated May 7, 2014 (collectively, the “Agreement”), between the Company and Lampert Capital Markets, Inc., as successor to KCCI, Ltd., as agent, which are to be performed on or prior to the date hereof have been duly performed as of the date hereof.

5.The Company shall not sell any Remaining Shares pursuant to the Agreement unless the price per share to be paid to the Company for the Remaining Shares shall be equal to or greater than $30.00 per share and the number of Remaining Shares sold on any given day shall not exceed the greater of (i) twenty percent (20%) of the trading volume in the Common Stock on the Exchange on the Purchase Date, or (ii) twenty percent (20%) of the average daily trading volume in the Common Stock on the Exchange for the ninety (90) trading days preceding the Purchase Date.




6.The Agreement executed by the Company has been approved by, or pursuant to the authority of, the Board of Directors of the Company.

Each capitalized term used but not defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the Agreement.
ALLETE, Inc.
By:_____________________________









Exhibit C
[Letterhead of Deborah A. Amberg, Esq.]


[Date]
Lampert Capital Markets, Inc.
477 Madison Avenue, Ste. 230
New York, NY 10022

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Reference is made to the sale by ALLETE, Inc., a Minnesota corporation (“Company”), of up to 3,147,753 shares of its common stock, without par value (“Common Stock” or the “Shares”), pursuant to Third Amended and Restated Distribution Agreement, dated August 2, 2012, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to Third Amended and Restated Distribution Agreement, dated August 5, 2013, by an Assignment and Assumption of and Amendment No. 2 to Third Amended and Restated Distribution Agreement, dated February 13, 2014, and by an Amendment No. 3 to Third Amended and Restated Distribution Agreement, dated May 7, 2014 (collectively, the “Agreement”) between the Company and Lampert Capital Markets, Inc., as successor to KCCI, Ltd. (the “Agent”).
I advise you that I am General Counsel to the Company and have acted in that capacity in connection with the Agreement and the issuance and sale of the Shares pursuant to the Agreement and I (or attorneys in the Company’s legal department with whom I have consulted) have participated in the preparation of (a) Registration Statement No. 333‑190335, as filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for the registration of an indeterminate amount of Common Stock and one or more series of the Company’s first mortgage bonds under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”); (b) the prospectus, dated August 2, 2013, constituting part of the Registration Statement, as amended and supplemented by a prospectus supplement, dated May 7, 2014, relating to the Shares (“Prospectus”); (c) the Agreement; and (d) the petition filed by the Company with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (“MPUC”), dated _____________, seeking approval of the Company’s capital structure and authorization to issue the Shares. In addition, I have reviewed the order issued by the MPUC, dated _____________ (“Order”), in response to said petition.
In furnishing this opinion, I have examined the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended (the “Charter”), and the Bylaws, as amended (“Bylaws”), of the Company, and have made such further investigation and examined such further documents and records of the Company and certificates of public officials as I have deemed necessary or appropriate for purposes of this opinion. I have also reviewed all corporate proceedings taken by the Company in respect of the authorization of the Agreement and the issuance and sale of the Shares thereunder.




For purposes of the opinions expressed below, I have assumed (i) the authenticity of all documents submitted to me as originals, (ii) the conformity to the originals of all documents submitted to me as certified or photostatic copies and the authenticity of the originals of such copies, (iii) the genuineness of all signatures other than on behalf of the Company, (iv) the legal capacity of natural persons, (v) the power, corporate or otherwise, of all parties other than the Company to enter into and to perform all of its obligations under such documents, and (vi) the due authorization, execution and delivery of all documents by all parties other than the Company.
For purposes of the opinions contained herein, I have made no independent investigation of the facts referred to herein, and with respect to such facts have relied, for the purpose of rendering this opinion and except as otherwise stated herein, exclusively on the statements contained and matters provided for in the Agreement and such other documents relating to the Agreement as I have deemed advisable, including the factual representations, warranties and covenants contained therein as made by the respective parties thereto and assumed that any such statement or representation that was given or dated on or prior to the date hereof continues to remain accurate and complete, insofar as relevant to my opinion, from such earlier date through and including the date of this opinion.
Upon the basis of my familiarity with these transactions and with the Company’s properties and affairs generally, I am of the opinion that:
1.The Company is a validly organized and existing corporation under the laws of the State of Minnesota and is duly qualified to do business, and is doing business, in that State.

2.The Company is a public utility corporation duly authorized by its Charter to conduct the business which it is now conducting as set forth in the Prospectus and the Company holds valid and subsisting franchises, licenses and permits authorizing it to carry on the utility business in which it is engaged.

3.The Shares have been duly authorized for issuance and sale and, upon delivery to the Agent against payment therefor in accordance with the terms of the Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non‑assessable, and will not be subject to any preemptive or similar right.

4.The Order has been issued by the MPUC certifying the Company’s capital structure and to the best of my knowledge, said Order is still in full force and effect; and assuming the Company complies with the capital structure, equity ratio and other provisions of the Order, no further approval, authorization, consent or order of any public board or body (other than in connection or in compliance with the provisions of the securities or “blue sky” laws of any jurisdiction, as to which I express no opinion) is legally required for the authorization of the issuance and sale of the Shares, it being understood that any future authorizations of the MPUC referenced in Section 6(e) of the Agreement shall be addressed in a subsequent written opinion delivered pursuant to Section 6(e) of the Agreement.





5.The Registration Statement and the Prospectus (except as to the financial statements and other financial or statistical data contained therein, upon which I do not pass) comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the applicable instructions, rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder; the Registration Statement has become, and at the date hereof the Registration Statement is, effective under the Securities Act, and to the best of my knowledge no proceedings for a stop order with respect thereto are pending or threatened under Section 8 of the Securities Act.

6.The statements set forth in the Prospectus under the caption “Description of Common Stock” constitute a summary of the securities, documents and instruments therein described, are accurate and fairly present the information contained therein in all material respects.

7.The Company has full power and authority to enter into the Agreement. The Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company.

8.Each Significant Subsidiary (as defined in the Agreement), if any, is a validly organized and existing entity under the laws of the state of its organization and is duly qualified to do business, and is doing business, in such state and in each other state in which the failure to qualify would be material to the Company and its Subsidiaries (as defined in the Agreement), taken as a whole.

9.Other than as stated in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there are no pending legal proceedings to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or of which property of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is the subject, which depart from the ordinary routine litigation incident to the kind of business conducted by the Company or any such subsidiary, and which is reasonably likely to be determined adversely and, if determined adversely, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Agreement) on the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and, to the best of my knowledge, no such proceedings are known to be contemplated by governmental authorities.

10.Neither the issue and sale by the Company of the Shares as contemplated by the Agreement nor the consummation by the Company of the other transactions contemplated by the Agreement conflicts with, or results in a breach of, the Charter or Bylaws of the Company or any agreement or instrument known to me to which the Company is a party or by which the Company is bound, any law or regulation or, so far as is known to me, any order or regulation of any court, governmental instrumentality or arbitrator, and which conflict or breach is material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

In passing upon the forms of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, I necessarily assume the correctness and completeness of the statements made or included therein by the Company and take no responsibility therefor, except insofar as such statements relate to me and as set forth in the Prospectus under the heading “Legal Opinions” and in paragraph 6 above. In the course of the preparation by the Company of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, I had conferences with certain of its officers and representatives, with other counsel for the Company and with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm who examined certain of the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting and the financial statements incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement. My examination of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and my discussions in the above-mentioned




conferences did not disclose to me any information which gives me reason to believe that, at the time of the Registration Statement’s effectiveness for purposes of Section 11 of the Act, as such section applies to the Agent, the Registration Statement contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or that the Prospectus at the time it was filed electronically with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424, and the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented at the date hereof, contained or contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. I do not express any opinion or belief as to the financial statements or other financial or statistical data contained in the Registration Statement or in the Prospectus.
This opinion is limited to the laws of the State of Minnesota and the federal laws of the United States insofar as they bear on the matters covered hereby. As to all matters of New York law, I have relied, with your consent, upon the opinion of even date herewith rendered to you by Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, New York, New York. As to all matters of Minnesota law, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, is hereby authorized to rely upon this opinion to the same extent as if this opinion had been addressed to them.
Very truly yours,
Deborah A. Amberg








Exhibit D
[Letterhead of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP]
[Date]
Lampert Capital Markets, Inc.
477 Madison Avenue, Ste. 230
New York, NY 10022

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Reference is made to the sale by ALLETE, Inc., a Minnesota corporation (“Company”), of up to 3,147,753 shares of its common stock, without par value (“Common Stock” or the “Shares”), pursuant to Third Amended and Restated Distribution Agreement, dated August 2, 2012, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to Third Amended and Restated Distribution Agreement, dated August 5, 2013, by an Assignment and Assumption of and Amendment No. 2 to Third Amended and Restated Distribution Agreement, dated February 13, 2014, and by an Amendment No. 3 to Third Amended and Restated Distribution Agreement, dated May 7, 2014 (collectively, the “Agreement”) between the Company and Lampert Capital Markets, Inc., as successor to KCCI, Ltd. (the “Agent”).
We have acted as counsel for the Company and we have participated in the preparation of or reviewed (a) Registration Statement No. 333‑190335, as filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for the registration of an indeterminate amount of Common Stock and one or more series of the Company’s first mortgage bonds under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”); (b) the prospectus, dated August 2, 2013, constituting part of the Registration Statement, as amended and supplemented by a prospectus supplement, dated May 7, 2014, relating to the Shares (“Prospectus”); (c) the Agreement; and (d) the petition filed by the Company with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (“MPUC”), dated _____________, seeking approval of the Company’s capital structure and authorization to issue the Shares. In addition, we have reviewed the order issued by the MPUC, dated _____________ (“Order”), in response to said petition.
In furnishing this opinion, we have examined the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended (the “Charter”), and the Bylaws, as amended (“Bylaws”), of the Company, and have made such further investigation and examined such further documents and records of the Company and certificates of public officials as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for purposes of this opinion. We have also reviewed all corporate proceedings taken by the Company in respect of the authorization of the Agreement and the issuance and sale of the Shares thereunder.
For purposes of the opinions expressed below, we have assumed (i) the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, (ii) the conformity to the originals of all documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies and the authenticity of the originals of such copies, (iii) the genuineness of




all signatures other than on behalf of the Company, (iv) the legal capacity of natural persons, (v) the power, corporate or otherwise, of all parties other than the Company to enter into and to perform all of its obligations under such documents, and (vi) the due authorization, execution and delivery of all documents by all parties other than the Company.
For purposes of the opinions contained herein, we have made no independent investigation of the facts referred to herein, and with respect to such facts have relied, for the purpose of rendering this opinion and except as otherwise stated herein, exclusively on the statements contained and matters provided for in the Agreement and such other documents relating to the Agreement as we have deemed advisable, including the factual representations, warranties and covenants contained therein as made by the respective parties thereto and assumed that any such statement or representation that was given or dated on or prior to the date hereof continues to remain accurate and complete, insofar as relevant to our opinion, from such earlier date through and including the date of this opinion.
Upon the basis of our familiarity with these transactions and with the Company’s properties and affairs generally, we are of the opinion that:
1.The Shares have been duly authorized for issuance and sale and, upon delivery to the Agent against payment therefor in accordance with the terms of the Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non‑assessable, and will not be subject to any preemptive or similar right.
 
2.The Order has been issued by the MPUC certifying the Company’s capital structure and to the best of our knowledge, said Order is still in full force and effect; and assuming the Company complies with the capital structure, equity ratio and other provisions of the Order, no further approval, authorization, consent or order of any public board or body (other than in connection or in compliance with the provisions of the securities or “blue sky” laws of any jurisdiction, as to which we express no opinion) is legally required for the authorization of the issuance and sale of the Shares, it being understood that any future authorizations of the MPUC referenced in Section 6(e) of the Agreement shall be addressed in a subsequent written opinion delivered pursuant to Section 6(e) of the Agreement.

3.The Registration Statement and the Prospectus (except as to the financial statements and other financial or statistical data contained therein, upon which we do not pass) comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the applicable instructions, rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder; the Registration Statement has become, and at the date hereof the Registration Statement is, effective under the Securities Act, and to the best of our knowledge no proceedings for a stop order with respect thereto are pending or threatened under Section 8 of the Securities Act.

4.The statements set forth in the Prospectus under the caption “Description of Common Stock” constitute a summary of the securities, documents and instruments therein described, are accurate and fairly present the information contained therein in all material respects.





5.The Company has full power and authority to enter into the Agreement. The Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company.

6.Neither the issue and sale by the Company of the Shares as contemplated by the Agreement nor the consummation by the Company of the other transactions contemplated by the Agreement conflicts with, or results in a breach of, the Charter or Bylaws of the Company, and which conflict or breach is material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

In passing upon the forms of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, we necessarily assume the correctness and completeness of the statements made or included therein by the Company and take no responsibility therefor, except insofar as such statements relate to us and in paragraph 4 above. In the course of the preparation by the Company of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, we had conferences with certain of its officers and representatives, with other counsel for the Company and with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm who examined certain of the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting and the financial statements incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement. Our examination of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and our discussions in the above‑mentioned conferences did not disclose to us any information which gives us reason to believe that, at the time of the Registration Statement’s effectiveness for purposes of Section 11 of the Act, as such section applies to the Agent, the Registration Statement contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or that the Prospectus at the time it was filed electronically with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424, and the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented at the date hereof, contained or contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. We do not express any opinion or belief as to the financial statements or other financial or statistical data contained in the Registration Statement or in the Prospectus.
This opinion is limited to the laws of the States of New York , Minnesota and the federal laws of the United States insofar as they bear on the matters covered hereby. As to all matters of Minnesota law, we have relied, with your consent, upon the opinion of even date herewith rendered to you by Deborah A. Amberg, Esq., Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of the Company. As to all matters of Minnesota law, Deborah A. Amberg, Esq. is hereby authorized to rely upon this opinion to the same extent as if this opinion had been addressed to her.
Very truly yours,
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP


ALE 3-31-2014 EX-4
Exhibit 4





ALLETE, Inc.
(formerly Minnesota Power & Light Company
and formerly Minnesota Power, Inc.)

TO

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
(formerly The Bank of New York
(formerly Irving Trust Company))

AND

PHILIP L. WATSON
(successor to Richard H. West, J. A. Austin, E. J. McCabe,
D. W. May, J. A. Vaughan, W. T. Cunningham, Douglas J. MacInnes and Ming Ryan)

As Trustees under ALLETE, Inc.’s Mortgage and Deed of
Trust dated as of September 1, 1945
___________________________________________

Thirty-fifth Supplemental Indenture
Providing, among other things, for
First Mortgage Bonds, 3.69% Series due March 15, 2024
(Forty-eighth Series)

and

First Mortgage Bonds, 4.95% Series due March 15, 2044
(Forty-ninth Series)


Dated as of March 1, 2014






THIRTY-FIFTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

THIS INDENTURE, dated as of March 1, 2014, by and between ALLETE, Inc. (formerly Minnesota Power & Light Company and formerly Minnesota Power, Inc.), a corporation of the State of Minnesota, whose post office address is 30 West Superior Street, Duluth, Minnesota 55802 (hereinafter sometimes called the “Company”), and The Bank of New York Mellon (formerly The Bank of New York (formerly Irving Trust Company)), a corporation of the State of New York, whose post office address is 101 Barclay Street, New York, New York 10286 (hereinafter sometimes called the “Corporate Trustee”), and PHILIP L. WATSON (successor to Richard H. West, J. A. Austin, E. J. McCabe, D. W. May, J. A. Vaughan, W. T. Cunningham, Douglas J. MacInnes and Ming Ryan), whose post office address is c/o The Bank of New York Mellon, 101 Barclay Street, New York, New York 10286 (said Philip L. Watson being hereinafter sometimes called the “Co-Trustee” and the Corporate Trustee and the Co-Trustee being hereinafter together sometimes called the “Trustees”), as Trustees under the Mortgage and Deed of Trust, dated as of September 1, 1945, between the Company and Irving Trust Company and Richard H. West, as Trustees, securing bonds issued and to be issued as provided therein (hereinafter sometimes called the “Mortgage”), reference to which Mortgage is hereby made, this indenture (hereinafter sometimes called the “Thirty-fifth Supplemental Indenture”) being supplemental thereto:

WHEREAS, the Mortgage was filed and recorded in various official records in the State of Minnesota; and

WHEREAS, an instrument, dated as of October 16, 1957, was executed and delivered under which J. A. Austin succeeded Richard H. West as Co-Trustee under the Mortgage, and such instrument was filed and recorded in various official records in the State of Minnesota; and

WHEREAS, an instrument, dated as of April 4, 1967, was executed and delivered under which E. J. McCabe in turn succeeded J. A. Austin as Co-Trustee under the Mortgage, and such instrument was filed and recorded in various official records in the State of Minnesota; and

WHEREAS, under the Sixth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 1, 1975, to which reference is hereinafter made, D. W. May in turn succeeded E. J. McCabe as Co-Trustee under the Mortgage; and

WHEREAS, an instrument, dated as of June 25, 1984, was executed and delivered under which J. A. Vaughan in turn succeeded D. W. May as Co-Trustee under the Mortgage, and such instrument was filed and recorded in various official records in the State of Minnesota; and

WHEREAS, an instrument, dated as of July 27, 1988, was executed and delivered under which W. T. Cunningham in turn succeeded J. A. Vaughan as Co-Trustee under the Mortgage, and such instrument was filed and recorded in various official records in the State of Minnesota; and

WHEREAS, on May 12, 1998, the Company filed Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Minnesota changing its name from Minnesota Power & Light Company to Minnesota Power, Inc. effective May 27, 1998; and

WHEREAS, an instrument, dated as of April 15, 1999, was executed and delivered under which Douglas J. MacInnes in turn succeeded W. T. Cunningham as Co-Trustee under the Mortgage, and such instrument was filed and recorded in various official records in the State of Minnesota; and

WHEREAS, on May 8, 2001, the Company filed Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Minnesota changing its name from Minnesota Power, Inc. to ALLETE, Inc.; and

WHEREAS, under the Thirty-second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 1, 2010, to which reference is hereinafter made, Ming Ryan in turn succeeded Douglas J. MacInnes as Co-Trustee under the Mortgage; and


WHEREAS, an instrument, dated as of August 1, 2012, was executed and delivered under which Philip L. Watson in turn succeeded Ming Ryan as Co-Trustee under the Mortgage effective at the close of business on August 6, 2012, and such instrument was filed and recorded in various official records in the State of Minnesota; and

WHEREAS, by the Mortgage the Company covenanted, among other things, that it would execute and deliver such supplemental indenture or indentures and such further instruments and do such further acts as might be necessary or proper to carry out more effectually the purposes of the Mortgage and to make subject to the lien of the Mortgage any property thereafter acquired and intended to be subject to the lien thereof; and

WHEREAS, for said purposes, among others, the Company executed and delivered the following indentures supplemental to the Mortgage:
Designation
Dated as of
First Supplemental Indenture
March 1, 1949
Second Supplemental Indenture
July 1, 1951
Third Supplemental Indenture
March 1, 1957
Fourth Supplemental Indenture
January 1, 1968
Fifth Supplemental Indenture
April 1, 1971
Sixth Supplemental Indenture
August 1, 1975
Seventh Supplemental Indenture
September 1, 1976
Eighth Supplemental Indenture
September 1, 1977
Ninth Supplemental Indenture
April 1, 1978
Tenth Supplemental Indenture
August 1, 1978
Eleventh Supplemental Indenture
December 1, 1982
Twelfth Supplemental Indenture
April 1, 1987
Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture
March 1, 1992
Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture
June 1, 1992
Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture
July 1, 1992
Sixteenth Supplemental Indenture
July 1, 1992
Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture
February 1, 1993
Eighteenth Supplemental Indenture
July 1, 1993
Nineteenth Supplemental Indenture
February 1, 1997
Twentieth Supplemental Indenture
November 1, 1997
Twenty-first Supplemental Indenture
October 1, 2000
Twenty-second Supplemental Indenture
July 1, 2003
Twenty-third Supplemental Indenture
August 1, 2004
Twenty-fourth Supplemental Indenture
March 1, 2005
Twenty-fifth Supplemental Indenture
December 1, 2005
Twenty-sixth Supplemental Indenture
October 1, 2006
Twenty-seventh Supplemental Indenture
February 1, 2008
Twenty-eighth Supplemental Indenture
May 1, 2008
Twenty-ninth Supplemental Indenture
November 1, 2008
Thirtieth Supplemental Indenture
January 1, 2009
Thirty-first Supplemental Indenture
February 1, 2010
Thirty-second Supplemental Indenture
August 1, 2010
Thirty-third Supplemental Indenture
July 1, 2012
Thirty-fourth Supplemental Indenture
April 1, 2013

3

which supplemental indentures were filed and recorded in various official records in the State of Minnesota; and

WHEREAS, the Company has heretofore issued, in accordance with the provisions of the Mortgage, as heretofore supplemented, the following series of First Mortgage Bonds:
Series
Principal
Amount
  Issued  
Principal
Amount
Outstanding
3-1/8% Series due 1975
$26,000,000

None
3-1/8% Series due 1979
4,000,000

None
3-5/8% Series due 1981
10,000,000

None
4-3/4% Series due 1987
12,000,000

None
6-1/2% Series due 1998
18,000,000

None
8‑1/8% Series due 2001
23,000,000

None
10‑1/2% Series due 2005
35,000,000

None
8.70% Series due 2006
35,000,000

None
8.35% Series due 2007
50,000,000

None
9-1/4% Series due 2008
50,000,000

None
Pollution Control Series A
111,000,000

None
Industrial Development Series A
2,500,000

None
Industrial Development Series B
1,800,000

None
Industrial Development Series C
1,150,000

None
Pollution Control Series B
13,500,000

None
Pollution Control Series C
2,000,000

None
Pollution Control Series D
3,600,000

None
7-3/4% Series due 1994
55,000,000

None
7-3/8% Series due March 1, 1997
60,000,000

None
7-3/4% Series due June 1, 2007
55,000,000

None
7-1/2% Series due August 1, 2007
35,000,000

None
Pollution Control Series E
111,000,000

None
7% Series due March 1, 2008
50,000,000

None
6-1/4% Series due July 1, 2003
25,000,000

None
7% Series due February 15, 2007
60,000,000

None
6.68% Series due November 15, 2007
20,000,000

None
Floating Rate Series due October 20, 2003
250,000,000

None
Collateral Series A
255,000,000

None
Pollution Control Series F
111,000,000

111,000,000
5.28% Series due August 1, 2020
35,000,000

 35,000,000
5.69% Series due March 1, 2036
50,000,000

 50,000,000
5.99% Series due February 1, 2027
60,000,000

 60,000,000
4.86% Series due April 1, 2013
60,000,000

 None
6.02% Series due May 1, 2023
75,000,000

75,000,000
6.94% Series due January 15, 2014
18,000,000

None
7.70% Series due January 15, 2016
20,000,000

20,000,000
8.17% Series due January 15, 2019
42,000,000

42,000,000
4.85% Series due April 15, 2021
15,000,000

15,000,000
5.10% Series due April 15, 2025
30,000,000

30,000,000
6.00% Series due April 15, 2040
35,000,000

35,000,000

4

Series
Principal
Amount
  Issued  
Principal
Amount
Outstanding
4.90% Series due October 15, 2025
30,000,000

30,000,000
5.82% Series due April 15, 2040
45,000,000

45,000,000
3.20% Series due July 15, 2026
75,000,000

75,000,000
4.08% Series due July 15, 2042
85,000,000

85,000,000
1.83% Series due April 15, 2018
50,000,000

50,000,000
3.30% Series due October 15, 2028
40,000,000

40,000,000
4.21% Series due October 15, 2043
60,000,000

60,000,000

which bonds are also hereinafter sometimes called bonds of the First through Forty-seventh Series, respectively; and

WHEREAS, Section 8 of the Mortgage provides that the form of each series of bonds (other than the First Series) issued thereunder and of coupons to be attached to coupon bonds of such series shall be established by Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company and that the form of such series, as established by said Board of Directors, shall specify the descriptive title of the bonds and various other terms thereof, and may also contain such provisions not inconsistent with the provisions of the Mortgage as the Board of Directors may, in its discretion, cause to be inserted therein expressing or referring to the terms and conditions upon which such bonds are to be issued and/or secured under the Mortgage; and

WHEREAS, Section 120 of the Mortgage provides, among other things, that any power, privilege or right expressly or impliedly reserved to or in any way conferred upon the Company by any provision of the Mortgage, whether such power, privilege or right is in any way restricted or is unrestricted, may (to the extent permitted by law) be in whole or in part waived or surrendered or subjected to any restriction if at the time unrestricted or to additional restriction if already restricted, and the Company may enter into any further covenants, limitations or restrictions for the benefit of any one or more series of bonds issued thereunder, or the Company may cure any ambiguity contained therein, or in any supplemental indenture, or may establish the terms and provisions of any series of bonds (other than said First Series) by an instrument in writing executed and acknowledged by the Company in such manner as would be necessary to entitle a conveyance of real estate to record in all of the states in which any property at the time subject to the lien of the Mortgage shall be situated; and

WHEREAS, the Company now desires to create two new series of bonds and (pursuant to the provisions of Section 120 of the Mortgage) to add to its covenants and agreements contained in the Mortgage, as heretofore supplemented, certain other covenants and agreements to be observed by it and to alter and amend in certain respects the covenants and provisions contained in the Mortgage, as heretofore supplemented; and

WHEREAS, the execution and delivery by the Company of this Thirty-fifth Supplemental Indenture, and the terms of the bonds of the Forty-eighth Series and the Forty-ninth Series, hereinafter referred to, have been duly authorized by the Board of Directors of the Company by appropriate resolutions of said Board of Directors;


5

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

That the Company, in consideration of the premises and of One Dollar to it duly paid by the Trustees at or before the ensealing and delivery of these presents, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, and in further evidence of assurance of the estate, title and rights of the Trustees and in order further to secure the payment of both the principal of and interest and premium, if any, on the bonds from time to time issued under the Mortgage, as heretofore supplemented, according to their tenor and effect and the performance of all the provisions of the Mortgage (including any instruments supplemental thereto and any modification made as in the Mortgage provided) and of said bonds, hereby grants, bargains, sells, releases, conveys, assigns, transfers, mortgages, pledges, sets over and confirms (subject, however, to Excepted Encumbrances) unto The Bank of New York Mellon and Philip L. Watson, as Trustees under the Mortgage, and to their successor or successors in said trust, and to said Trustees and their successors and assigns forever, all property, real, personal and mixed, of the kind or nature specifically mentioned in the Mortgage, as heretofore supplemented, or of any other kind or nature acquired by the Company after the date of the execution and delivery of the Mortgage, as heretofore supplemented (except any herein or in the Mortgage, as heretofore supplemented, expressly excepted), now owned or, subject to the provisions of subsection (I) of Section 87 of the Mortgage, hereafter acquired by the Company (by purchase, consolidation, merger, donation, construction, erection or in any other way) and wheresoever situated, including (without in anywise limiting or impairing by the enumeration of the same the scope and intent of the foregoing or of any general description contained in this Thirty-fifth Supplemental Indenture) all lands, power sites, flowage rights, water rights, water locations, water appropriations, ditches, flumes, reservoirs, reservoir sites, canals, raceways, dams, dam sites, aqueducts, and all other rights or means for appropriating, conveying, storing and supplying water; all rights of way and roads; all plants for the generation of electricity by steam, water and/or other power; all power houses, gas plants, street lighting systems, standards and other equipment incidental thereto, telephone, radio and television systems, air-conditioning systems and equipment incidental thereto, water works, water systems, steam heat and hot water plants, substations, lines, service and supply systems, bridges, culverts, tracks, ice or refrigeration plants and equipment, offices, buildings and other structures and the equipment thereof; all machinery, engines, boilers, dynamos, electric, gas and other machines, regulators, meters, transformers, generators, motors, electrical, gas and mechanical appliances, conduits, cables, water, steam heat, gas or other pipes, gas mains and pipes, service pipes, fittings, valves and connections, pole and transmission lines, wires, cables, tools, implements, apparatus, furniture and chattels; all municipal and other franchises, consents or permits; all lines for the transmission and distribution of electric current, gas, steam heat or water for any purpose including towers, poles, wires, cables, pipes, conduits, ducts and all apparatus for use in connection therewith; all real estate, lands, easements, servitudes, licenses, permits, franchises, privileges, rights of way and other rights in or relating to real estate or the occupancy of the same and (except as herein or in the Mortgage, as heretofore supplemented, expressly excepted) all the right, title and interest of the Company in and to all other property of any kind or nature appertaining to and/or used and/or occupied and/or enjoyed in connection with any property hereinbefore or in the Mortgage, as heretofore supplemented, described.

TOGETHER WITH all and singular the tenements, hereditaments, prescriptions, servitudes and appurtenances belonging or in anywise appertaining to the aforesaid property or any part thereof, with the reversion and reversions, remainder and remainders and (subject to the provisions of Section 57 of the Mortgage) the tolls, rents, revenues, issues, earnings, income, product and profits thereof, and all the estate, right, title and interest and claim whatsoever, at law as well as in equity, which the Company now has or may hereafter acquire in and to the aforesaid property and franchises and every part and parcel thereof.

IT IS HEREBY AGREED by the Company that, subject to the provisions of subsection (I) of Section 87 of the Mortgage, all the property, rights, and franchises acquired by the Company (by purchase, consolidation, merger, donation, construction, erection or in any other way) after the date hereof, except any herein or in the Mortgage, as heretofore supplemented, expressly excepted, shall be and are as fully granted and conveyed hereby and by the Mortgage and as fully embraced within the lien hereof and the lien of the Mortgage as if such property, rights and franchises were now owned by the Company and were specifically described herein or in the Mortgage and conveyed hereby or thereby.


6

PROVIDED that the following are not and are not intended to be now or hereafter granted, bargained, sold, released, conveyed, assigned, transferred, mortgaged, hypothecated, affected, pledged, set over or confirmed hereunder and are hereby expressly excepted from the lien and operation of this Thirty-fifth Supplemental Indenture and from the lien and operation of the Mortgage, namely: (1) cash, shares of stock, bonds, notes and other obligations and other securities not hereafter specifically pledged, paid, deposited, delivered or held under the Mortgage or covenanted so to be; (2) merchandise, equipment, apparatus, materials or supplies held for the purpose of sale or other disposition in the usual course of business; fuel, oil and similar materials and supplies consumable in the operation of any of the properties of the Company; all aircraft, rolling stock, trolley coaches, buses, motor coaches, automobiles and other vehicles and materials and supplies held for the purpose of repairing or replacing (in whole or part) any of the same; all timber, minerals, mineral rights and royalties; (3) bills, notes and accounts receivable, judgments, demands and choses in action, and all contracts, leases and operating agreements not specifically pledged under the Mortgage or covenanted so to be; the Company’s contractual rights or other interest in or with respect to tires not owned by the Company; (4) the last day of the term of any lease or leasehold which may hereafter become subject to the lien of the Mortgage; (5) electric energy, gas, steam, ice, and other materials or products generated, manufactured, produced or purchased by the Company for sale, distribution or use in the ordinary course of its business; and (6) the Company’s franchise to be a corporation; provided, however, that the property and rights expressly excepted from the lien and operation of this Thirty-fifth Supplemental Indenture and from the lien and operation of the Mortgage in the above subdivisions (2) and (3) shall (to the extent permitted by law) cease to be so excepted in the event and as of the date that either or both of the Trustees or a receiver or trustee shall enter upon and take possession of the Mortgaged and Pledged Property in the manner provided in Article XIII of the Mortgage by reason of the occurrence of a Default as defined in Section 65 thereof.

TO HAVE AND TO HOLD all such properties, real, personal and mixed, granted, bargained, sold, released, conveyed, assigned, transferred, mortgaged, pledged, set over or confirmed by the Company as aforesaid, or intended so to be, unto the Trustees and their successors and assigns forever.

IN TRUST NEVERTHELESS, for the same purposes and upon the same terms, trusts and conditions and subject to and with the same provisos and covenants as are set forth in the Mortgage, as supplemented, this Thirty-fifth Supplemental Indenture being supplemental thereto.

AND IT IS HEREBY COVENANTED by the Company that all the terms, conditions, provisos, covenants and provisions contained in the Mortgage, as heretofore supplemented, shall affect and apply to the property hereinbefore described and conveyed and to the estate, rights, obligations and duties of the Company and Trustees and the beneficiaries of the trust with respect to said property, and to the Trustees and their successors in the trust in the same manner and with the same effect as if said property had been owned by the Company at the time of the execution of the Mortgage, and had been specifically and at length described in and conveyed to said Trustees by the Mortgage as a part of the property therein stated to be conveyed.

The Company further covenants and agrees to and with the Trustees and their successors in said trust under the Mortgage as follows:


7

ARTICLE I
Forty-eighth Series of Bonds

SECTION 1. There shall be a series of bonds designated “3.69% Series due March 15, 2024” (herein sometimes referred to as the “Forty-eighth Series”), each of which shall also bear the descriptive title “First Mortgage Bond”, and the form thereof, which shall be established by Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company, shall contain suitable provisions with respect to the matters hereinafter in this Section specified. Bonds of the Forty-eighth Series shall be dated as in Section 10 of the Mortgage provided, mature on March 15, 2024 (the “Forty-eighth Series Stated Maturity”), be issued as fully registered bonds in denominations of One Thousand Dollars and, at the option of the Company, in any multiple or multiples of One Thousand Dollars (the exercise of such option to be evidenced by the execution and delivery thereof) and bear interest from March 4, 2014 (computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve thirty-day months) at the rate of 3.69% per annum, payable semi-annually on March 15 and September 15 of each year, commencing September 15, 2014, the principal of and interest on each said bond to be payable at the office or agency of the Company in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for public and private debts.

Any payment of principal of or interest on any bond of the Forty-eighth Series that is due on a date other than a Business Day shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day without including the additional days elapsed in the computation of the interest payable on such next succeeding Business Day; provided that if the maturity date of any such bond of the Forty-eighth Series is a date other than a Business Day, the payment otherwise due on such maturity date shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day and shall include the additional days elapsed in the computation of interest payable on such next succeeding Business Day.

(I)    Optional Prepayment. At any time prior to September 15, 2023 (six months prior to the Forty-eighth Series Stated Maturity) the Company may, at its option, upon notice as provided below, prepay at any time all, or from time to time any part of, the bonds of the Forty-eighth Series at 100% of the principal amount so prepaid, and the Make-Whole Amount determined for the Settlement Date specified by the Company in such notice with respect to such principal amount. The Company will give each registered owner of bonds of the Forty-eighth Series written notice (by first class mail or such other method as may be agreed upon by the Company and such registered owner) of each optional prepayment under this subsection (I) mailed or otherwise given not less than 30 days and not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for such prepayment, to each such registered owner at his, her or its last address appearing on the registry books. Each such notice shall specify the Settlement Date (which shall be a Business Day), the aggregate principal amount of the bonds of the Forty-eighth Series to be prepaid on such date, the principal amount of each bond held by such registered owner to be prepaid (determined in accordance with subsection (II) of this section), and the interest to be paid on the Settlement Date with respect to such principal amount being prepaid, and shall be accompanied by a certificate signed by a Senior Financial Officer as to the estimated Make-Whole Amount due in connection with such prepayment (calculated as if the date of such notice were the date of the prepayment), setting forth the details of such computation. Two Business Days prior to such Settlement Date, the Company shall send to each registered owner of bonds of the Forty-eighth Series (by first class mail or by such other method as may be agreed upon by the Company and such registered owner) a certificate signed by a Senior Financial Officer specifying the calculation of such Make-Whole Amount as of the specified Settlement Date. As promptly as practicable after the giving of the notice and the sending of the certificates provided in this subsection, the Company shall provide a copy of each to the Corporate Trustee. The Trustees shall be under no duty to inquire into, may conclusively presume the correctness of, and shall be fully protected in relying upon the information set forth in any such notice or certificate.

At any time on or after September 15, 2023, the bonds of the Forty-eighth series will be redeemable at the option of the Company, in whole or in part, on not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice prior to the Settlement Date, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the bonds of the Forty-eighth Series to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the Settlement Date. The bonds of the Forty-eighth Series are not otherwise subject to voluntary or optional prepayment.


8

(II)    Allocation of Partial Prepayments. In the case of each partial prepayment of the bonds of the Forty-eighth Series, the principal amount of the bonds of the Forty-eighth Series to be prepaid shall be allocated by the Company among all of the bonds of the Forty-eighth Series at the time outstanding in proportion, as nearly as practicable, to the respective unpaid principal amounts thereof not theretofore called for prepayment.

(III)     Maturity; Surrender, Etc. In the case of each notice of prepayment of bonds of the Forty-eighth Series pursuant to this section, if cash sufficient to pay the principal amount to be prepaid on the Settlement Date (which shall be a Business Day), together with interest on such principal amount accrued to such date and the applicable Make-Whole Amount, if any, is not paid as agreed upon by the Company and each registered owner of the affected bonds, or, to the extent that there is no such agreement entered into with one or more such owners, deposited with the Corporate Trustee on or before the Settlement Date, then such notice of prepayment shall be of no effect. If such cash is so paid or deposited, such principal amount of the bonds of the Forty-eighth Series shall be deemed paid for all purposes and interest on such principal amount shall cease to accrue. In case the Company pays any registered owner pursuant to an agreement with that registered owner, the Company shall notify the Corporate Trustee as promptly as practicable of such agreement and payment, and shall furnish the Corporate Trustee with a copy of such agreement; in case the Company deposits any cash with the Corporate Trustee, the Company shall provide therewith a list of the registered owners and the amount of such cash each registered owner is to receive. The Trustees shall be under no duty to inquire into, may conclusively presume the correctness of, and shall be fully protected in relying upon the information set forth in any such notice, list or agreement, and shall not be chargeable with knowledge of any of the contents of any such agreement. Any bond prepaid in full shall be surrendered to the Company or the Corporate Trustee for cancellation on or before the Settlement Date or, with respect to cash deposited with the Corporate Trustee, before payment of such cash by the Corporate Trustee; any bond prepaid in part shall be surrendered to the Company or the Corporate Trustee on or before the Settlement Date (unless otherwise agreed between the Company and the registered owner) or, with respect to cash deposited with the Corporate Trustee before payment of such cash by the Corporate Trustee, for a substitute bond in the principal amount remaining unpaid.

(IV)    Make-Whole Amount.

“Make-Whole Amount” means, with respect to any bond of the Forty-eighth Series, an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the Discounted Value of the Remaining Scheduled Payments with respect to the Called Principal of such bond of the Forty-eighth Series over the amount of such Called Principal, provided that the Make-Whole Amount may in no event be less than zero. For the purposes of determining the Make-Whole Amount, the following terms have the following meanings:

“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which commercial banks in New York City are required or authorized to be closed.

“Called Principal” means, with respect to any bond of the Forty-eighth Series, the principal of such bond that is to be prepaid pursuant to subsection (I) of this section.

“Discounted Value” means, with respect to the Called Principal of any bond of the Forty-eighth Series, the amount obtained by discounting all Remaining Scheduled Payments with respect to such Called Principal from their respective scheduled due dates to the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal, in accordance with accepted financial practice and at a discount factor (applied on the same periodic basis as that on which interest on the bonds of the Forty-eighth Series is payable) equal to the Reinvestment Yield with respect to such Called Principal.


9

“Reinvestment Yield” means, with respect to the Called Principal of any bond of the Forty-eighth Series, 0.5% over the yield to maturity implied by (i) the yields reported as of 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the second Business Day preceding the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal, on the display designated as “Page PX1” on the Bloomberg Financial Markets Service (or such other display on the Bloomberg Financial Markets Service having the same information as PX1 if PX1 is replaced by the Bloomberg Financial Markets Service) for the most recently issued actively traded on-the-run benchmark U.S. Treasury securities having a maturity equal to the Remaining Average Life of such Called Principal as of such Settlement Date, or (ii) if such yields are not reported as of such time or the yields reported as of such time are not ascertainable (including by way of interpolation), the Treasury Constant Maturity Series Yields reported, for the latest day for which such yields have been so reported as of the second Business Day preceding the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal, in Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) (or any comparable successor publication) for actively traded U.S. Treasury securities having a constant maturity equal to the Remaining Average Life of such Called Principal as of such Settlement Date. Such implied yield will be determined, if necessary, by (a) converting U.S. Treasury bill quotations to bond equivalent yields in accordance with accepted financial practice and (b) interpolating linearly between (1) the most recently issued, actively traded on-the-run benchmark U.S. Treasury security with the maturity closest to and greater than such Remaining Average Life and (2) the most recently issued, actively traded on-the-run benchmark U.S. Treasury security with the maturity closest to and less than such Remaining Average Life. The Reinvestment Yield shall be rounded to the number of decimal places as appears in the interest rate of the applicable bond of the Forty-eighth Series.

“Remaining Average Life” means, with respect to any Called Principal, the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth year) obtained by dividing (i) such Called Principal into (ii) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the principal component of each Remaining Scheduled Payment with respect to such Called Principal by (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth year) that will elapse between the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal and the scheduled due date of such Remaining Scheduled Payment.

“Remaining Scheduled Payments” means, with respect to the Called Principal of any Bond of the Forty-eighth Series, all payments of such Called Principal and interest thereon that would be due after the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal if no payment of such Called Principal were made prior to its scheduled due date, provided that if such Settlement Date is not a date on which interest payments are due to be made under the terms of the bonds of the Forty-eighth Series, then the amount of the next succeeding scheduled interest payment will be reduced by the amount of interest accrued to such Settlement Date and required to be paid on such Settlement Date pursuant to subsection (I) of this section.

“Settlement Date” means, with respect to the Called Principal of any Bond of the Forty-eighth Series, the date on which such Called Principal is to be prepaid pursuant to subsection (I) of this section.

“Senior Financial Officer” means the chief financial officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer or comptroller of the Company.

(V)    At the option of the registered owner, any bonds of the Forty-eighth Series, upon surrender thereof for cancellation at the office or agency of the Company in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, together with a written instrument of transfer wherever required by the Company duly executed by the registered owner or by his duly authorized attorney, shall (subject to the provisions of Section 12 of the Mortgage) be exchangeable for a like aggregate unpaid principal amount of bonds of the same series of other authorized denominations.

Bonds of the Forty-eighth Series shall be transferable (subject to the provisions of Section 12 of the Mortgage) at the office or agency of the Company in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York. The Company shall not be required to make transfers or exchanges of bonds of the Forty-eighth Series for a period of ten (10) days next preceding any designation of bonds of said series to be prepaid, and the Company shall not be required to make transfers or exchanges of any bonds of said series designated in whole or in part for prepayment.


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Upon any exchange or transfer of bonds of the Forty-eighth Series, the Company may make a charge therefor sufficient to reimburse it for any tax or taxes or other governmental charge, as provided in Section 12 of the Mortgage, but the Company hereby waives any right to make a charge in addition thereto for any exchange or transfer of bonds of the Forty-eighth Series.

After the delivery of this Thirty-fifth Supplemental Indenture and upon compliance with the applicable provisions of the Mortgage and receipt of consideration therefor by the Company, there shall be an initial issue of bonds of the Forty-eighth Series for the aggregate principal amount of $60,000,000.


ARTICLE II
Forty-ninth Series of Bonds

SECTION 1. There shall be a series of bonds designated “4.95% Series due March 15, 2044” (herein sometimes referred to as the “Forty-ninth Series”), each of which shall also bear the descriptive title “First Mortgage Bond”, and the form thereof, which shall be established by Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company, shall contain suitable provisions with respect to the matters hereinafter in this Section specified. Bonds of the Forty-ninth Series shall be dated as in Section 10 of the Mortgage provided, mature on March 15, 2044 (the “Forty-ninth Series Stated Maturity”), be issued as fully registered bonds in denominations of One Thousand Dollars and, at the option of the Company, in any multiple or multiples of One Thousand Dollars (the exercise of such option to be evidenced by the execution and delivery thereof) and bear interest from March 4, 2014 (computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve thirty-day months) at the rate of 4.95% per annum, payable semi-annually on March 15 and September 15 of each year, commencing September 15, 2014, the principal of and interest on each said bond to be payable at the office or agency of the Company in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for public and private debts.

Any payment of principal of or interest on any bond of the Forty-ninth Series that is due on a date other than a Business Day shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day without including the additional days elapsed in the computation of the interest payable on such next succeeding Business Day; provided that if the maturity date of any such bond of the Forty-ninth Series is a date other than a Business Day, the payment otherwise due on such maturity date shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day and shall include the additional days elapsed in the computation of interest payable on such next succeeding Business Day.


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(I)    Optional Prepayment. At any time prior to September 15, 2043 (six months prior to the Forty-ninth Series Stated Maturity) the Company may, at its option, upon notice as provided below, prepay at any time all, or from time to time any part of, the bonds of the Forty-ninth Series at 100% of the principal amount so prepaid, and the Make-Whole Amount determined for the Settlement Date specified by the Company in such notice with respect to such principal amount. The Company will give each registered owner of bonds of the Forty-ninth Series written notice (by first class mail or such other method as may be agreed upon by the Company and such registered owner) of each optional prepayment under this subsection (I) mailed or otherwise given not less than 30 days and not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for such prepayment, to each such registered owner at his, her or its last address appearing on the registry books. Each such notice shall specify the Settlement Date (which shall be a Business Day), the aggregate principal amount of the bonds of the Forty-ninth Series to be prepaid on such date, the principal amount of each bond held by such registered owner to be prepaid (determined in accordance with subsection (II) of this section), and the interest to be paid on the Settlement Date with respect to such principal amount being prepaid, and shall be accompanied by a certificate signed by a Senior Financial Officer as to the estimated Make-Whole Amount due in connection with such prepayment (calculated as if the date of such notice were the date of the prepayment), setting forth the details of such computation. Two Business Days prior to such Settlement Date, the Company shall send to each registered owner of bonds of the Forty-ninth Series (by first class mail or by such other method as may be agreed upon by the Company and such registered owner) a certificate signed by a Senior Financial Officer specifying the calculation of such Make-Whole Amount as of the specified Settlement Date. As promptly as practicable after the giving of the notice and the sending of the certificates provided in this subsection, the Company shall provide a copy of each to the Corporate Trustee. The Trustees shall be under no duty to inquire into, may conclusively presume the correctness of, and shall be fully protected in relying upon the information set forth in any such notice or certificate.

At any time on or after September 15, 2043, the bonds of the Forty-ninth series will be redeemable at the option of the Company, in whole or in part, on not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice prior to the Settlement Date, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the bonds of the Forty-ninth Series to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the Settlement Date. The bonds of the Forty-ninth Series are not otherwise subject to voluntary or optional prepayment.

(II)    Allocation of Partial Prepayments. In the case of each partial prepayment of the bonds of the Forty-ninth Series, the principal amount of the bonds of the Forty-ninth Series to be prepaid shall be allocated by the Company among all of the bonds of the Forty-ninth Series at the time outstanding in proportion, as nearly as practicable, to the respective unpaid principal amounts thereof not theretofore called for prepayment.
    
(III)     Maturity; Surrender, Etc. In the case of each notice of prepayment of bonds of the Forty-ninth Series pursuant to this section, if cash sufficient to pay the principal amount to be prepaid on the Settlement Date (which shall be a Business Day), together with interest on such principal amount accrued to such date and the applicable Make-Whole Amount, if any, is not paid as agreed upon by the Company and each registered owner of the affected bonds, or, to the extent that there is no such agreement entered into with one or more such owners, deposited with the Corporate Trustee on or before the Settlement Date, then such notice of prepayment shall be of no effect. If such cash is so paid or deposited, such principal amount of the bonds of the Forty-ninth Series shall be deemed paid for all purposes and interest on such principal amount shall cease to accrue. In case the Company pays any registered owner pursuant to an agreement with that registered owner, the Company shall notify the Corporate Trustee as promptly as practicable of such agreement and payment, and shall furnish the Corporate Trustee with a copy of such agreement; in case the Company deposits any cash with the Corporate Trustee, the Company shall provide therewith a list of the registered owners and the amount of such cash each registered owner is to receive. The Trustees shall be under no duty to inquire into, may conclusively presume the correctness of, and shall be fully protected in relying upon the information set forth in any such notice, list or agreement, and shall not be chargeable with knowledge of any of the contents of any such agreement. Any bond prepaid in full shall be surrendered to the Company or the Corporate Trustee for cancellation on or before the Settlement Date or, with respect to cash deposited with the Corporate Trustee, before payment of such cash by the Corporate Trustee; any bond prepaid in part shall be surrendered to the Company or the Corporate Trustee on or before the Settlement Date (unless otherwise agreed between the Company and the registered owner) or, with respect to cash deposited with the Corporate Trustee before payment of such cash by the Corporate Trustee, for a substitute bond in the principal amount remaining unpaid.

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(IV)    Make-Whole Amount.

“Make-Whole Amount” means, with respect to any bond of the Forty-ninth Series, an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the Discounted Value of the Remaining Scheduled Payments with respect to the Called Principal of such bond of the Forty-ninth Series over the amount of such Called Principal, provided that the Make-Whole Amount may in no event be less than zero. For the purposes of determining the Make-Whole Amount, the following terms have the following meanings:

“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which commercial banks in New York City are required or authorized to be closed.

“Called Principal” means, with respect to any bond of the Forty-ninth Series, the principal of such bond that is to be prepaid pursuant to subsection (I) of this section.

“Discounted Value” means, with respect to the Called Principal of any bond of the Forty-ninth Series, the amount obtained by discounting all Remaining Scheduled Payments with respect to such Called Principal from their respective scheduled due dates to the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal, in accordance with accepted financial practice and at a discount factor (applied on the same periodic basis as that on which interest on the bonds of the Forty-ninth Series is payable) equal to the Reinvestment Yield with respect to such Called Principal.

“Reinvestment Yield” means, with respect to the Called Principal of any bond of the Forty-ninth Series, 0.5% over the yield to maturity implied by (i) the yields reported as of 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the second Business Day preceding the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal, on the display designated as “Page PX1” on the Bloomberg Financial Markets Service (or such other display on the Bloomberg Financial Markets Service having the same information as PX1 if PX1 is replaced by the Bloomberg Financial Markets Service) for the most recently issued actively traded on-the-run benchmark U.S. Treasury securities having a maturity equal to the Remaining Average Life of such Called Principal as of such Settlement Date, or (ii) if such yields are not reported as of such time or the yields reported as of such time are not ascertainable (including by way of interpolation), the Treasury Constant Maturity Series Yields reported, for the latest day for which such yields have been so reported as of the second Business Day preceding the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal, in Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) (or any comparable successor publication) for actively traded U.S. Treasury securities having a constant maturity equal to the Remaining Average Life of such Called Principal as of such Settlement Date. Such implied yield will be determined, if necessary, by (a) converting U.S. Treasury bill quotations to bond equivalent yields in accordance with accepted financial practice and (b) interpolating linearly between (1) the most recently issued, actively traded on-the-run benchmark U.S. Treasury security with the maturity closest to and greater than such Remaining Average Life and (2) the most recently issued, actively traded on-the-run benchmark U.S. Treasury security with the maturity closest to and less than such Remaining Average Life. The Reinvestment Yield shall be rounded to the number of decimal places as appears in the interest rate of the applicable bond of the Forty-ninth Series.

“Remaining Average Life” means, with respect to any Called Principal, the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth year) obtained by dividing (i) such Called Principal into (ii) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the principal component of each Remaining Scheduled Payment with respect to such Called Principal by (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth year) that will elapse between the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal and the scheduled due date of such Remaining Scheduled Payment.

“Remaining Scheduled Payments” means, with respect to the Called Principal of any Bond of the Forty-ninth Series, all payments of such Called Principal and interest thereon that would be due after the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal if no payment of such Called Principal were made prior to its scheduled due date, provided that if such Settlement Date is not a date on which interest payments are due to be made under the terms of the bonds of the Forty-ninth Series, then the amount of the next succeeding scheduled interest payment will be reduced by the amount of interest accrued to such Settlement Date and required to be paid on such Settlement Date pursuant to subsection (I) of this section.


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“Settlement Date” means, with respect to the Called Principal of any Bond of the Forty-ninth Series, the date on which such Called Principal is to be prepaid pursuant to subsection (I) of this section.

“Senior Financial Officer” means the chief financial officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer or comptroller of the Company.

(V)    At the option of the registered owner, any bonds of the Forty-ninth Series, upon surrender thereof for cancellation at the office or agency of the Company in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, together with a written instrument of transfer wherever required by the Company duly executed by the registered owner or by his duly authorized attorney, shall (subject to the provisions of Section 12 of the Mortgage) be exchangeable for a like aggregate unpaid principal amount of bonds of the same series of other authorized denominations.

Bonds of the Forty-ninth Series shall be transferable (subject to the provisions of Section 12 of the Mortgage) at the office or agency of the Company in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York. The Company shall not be required to make transfers or exchanges of bonds of the Forty-ninth Series for a period of ten (10) days next preceding any designation of bonds of said series to be prepaid, and the Company shall not be required to make transfers or exchanges of any bonds of said series designated in whole or in part for prepayment.

Upon any exchange or transfer of bonds of the Forty-ninth Series, the Company may make a charge therefor sufficient to reimburse it for any tax or taxes or other governmental charge, as provided in Section 12 of the Mortgage, but the Company hereby waives any right to make a charge in addition thereto for any exchange or transfer of bonds of the Forty-ninth Series.

After the delivery of this Thirty-fifth Supplemental Indenture and upon compliance with the applicable provisions of the Mortgage and receipt of consideration therefor by the Company, there shall be an initial issue of bonds of the Forty-ninth Series for the aggregate principal amount of $40,000,000.


ARTICLE III
Consent to Amendments

SECTION 1.  Consent to Amendments  Each initial and future holder of bonds of the Forty-eighth Series and the Forty-ninth Series, by its acquisition of an interest in such bonds, irrevocably (a) consents to the amendments set forth in Article IV of the Thirty-first Supplemental Indenture, dated as of February 1, 2010, without any other or further action by any holder of such bonds, and (b) designates the Corporate Trustee, and its successors, as its proxy with irrevocable instructions to vote and deliver written consents on behalf of such holder in favor of such amendments at any bondholder meeting, in lieu of any bondholder meeting, in any consent solicitation or otherwise.


ARTICLE IV
Reservation of Right to Amend Sections 35(a) and 101 of the Mortgage

SECTION 1. The Company reserves the right, without any vote, consent or other action by the holders of bonds of the Forty-eighth Series, the Forty-ninth Series or any subsequent series, to amend the Mortgage, as herein or heretofore supplemented as follows:

(A) By deleting from Section 35(a) the phrase “having its principal office and place of business in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York” and the word “such” at the location in said Section 35(a) at which such word first appears.


14

(B) By adding the following at the end of the first sentence of Section 101:

“; provided however, that if all of the bonds at that time Outstanding are registered as to principal and interest or as to principal only, such notice shall be sufficiently given if mailed, postage prepaid to each such registered owner of bonds at his/her last address appearing on the registry books, on or before the date of on which the first publication of such notice would otherwise have been required.”


ARTICLE V
Miscellaneous Provisions

SECTION 1. Section 126 of the Mortgage, as heretofore amended, is hereby further amended by adding the words “and March 15, 2024 and March 15, 2044” after the words “and October 15, 2043.”

SECTION 2. Subject to the amendments provided for in this Thirty-fifth Supplemental Indenture, the terms defined in the Mortgage, as heretofore supplemented, shall, for all purposes of this Thirty-fifth Supplemental Indenture, have the meanings specified in the Mortgage, as heretofore supplemented.

SECTION 3. The holders of bonds of the Forty-eighth Series and the Forty-ninth Series consent that the Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the holders of bonds of the Forty-eighth Series and the Forty-ninth Series entitled to consent to any amendment, supplement or waiver. If a record date is fixed, those persons who were holders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those persons, shall be entitled to consent to such amendment, supplement or waiver or to revoke any consent previously given, whether or not such persons continue to be holders after such record date. No such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 90 days after such record date.

SECTION 4. The Trustees hereby accept the trusts herein declared, provided, created or supplemented and agree to perform the same upon the terms and conditions herein and in the Mortgage set forth and upon the following terms and conditions:

The Trustees shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Thirty-fifth Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made by the Company solely. In general, each and every term and condition contained in Article XVII of the Mortgage shall apply to and form part of this Thirty-fifth Supplemental Indenture with the same force and effect as if the same were herein set forth in full with such omissions, variations and insertions, if any, as may be appropriate to make the same conform to the provisions of this Thirty-fifth Supplemental Indenture.

SECTION 5. Whenever in this Thirty-fifth Supplemental Indenture any party hereto is named or referred to, this shall, subject to the provisions of Articles XVI and XVII of the Mortgage, as heretofore supplemented, be deemed to include the successors or assigns of such party, and all the covenants and agreements in this Thirty-fifth Supplemental Indenture contained by or on behalf of the Company, or by or on behalf of the Trustees shall, subject as aforesaid, bind and inure to the benefit of the respective successors and assigns of such party whether so expressed or not.

SECTION 6. Nothing in this Thirty-fifth Supplemental Indenture, expressed or implied, is intended, or shall be construed, to confer upon, or give to, any person, firm or corporation, other than the parties hereto and the holders of the bonds and coupons Outstanding under the Mortgage, any right, remedy, or claim under or by reason of this Thirty-fifth Supplemental Indenture or any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise or agreement hereof, and all the covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises and agreements in this Thirty-fifth Supplemental Indenture contained by and on behalf of the Company shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto, and of the holders of the bonds and of the coupons Outstanding under the Mortgage.


15

SECTION 7. This Thirty-fifth Supplemental Indenture shall be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be an original and all of which shall constitute but one and the same instrument.

SECTION 8. The Company, the mortgagor named herein, by its execution hereof acknowledges receipt of a full, true and complete copy of this Thirty-fifth Supplemental Indenture.


16

In witness whereof, ALLETE, Inc. has caused its corporate name to be hereunto affixed, and this instrument to be signed and sealed by its President, one of its Vice Presidents, or its Treasurer, and its corporate seal to be attested by its Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries for and in its behalf, all in the City of Duluth, Minnesota, and The Bank of New York Mellon has caused its corporate name to be hereunto affixed, and this instrument to be signed and sealed by one of its Vice Presidents or one of its Assistant Vice Presidents and its corporate seal to be attested by one of its Assistant Treasurers, one of its Vice Presidents or one of its Assistant Vice Presidents, and Philip L. Watson has hereunto set his hand and affixed his seal, all in The City of New York, as of the day and year first above written.

ALLETE, Inc.

By
/s/ Mark A. Schober
 
Mark A. Schober
 
Senior Vice President & CFO

Attest:
/s/ Deborah A. Amberg
 
Deborah A. Amberg
 
Senior Vice President, General Counsel
 
and Secretary








Trustees’ Signature Page Follows




17



The Bank of New York Mellon,
as Trustee
By
/s/ Laurence O'Brian
 
Laurence O'Brian
 
Vice President
    


Attest:
/s/ Francine Kincaid
 
Francine Kincaid
 
Vice President

    



    
/s/ Philip L. Watson
L.S.
Philip L. Watson
 



Executed, sealed and delivered by The Bank of New
York Mellon and Philip L. Watson in the presence of:



 
/s/ Thomas Hacker
 
Thomas Hacker
 
Vice President



 
/s/ Arsala Kidwai
 
Arsala Kidwai
 
Vice President





Thirty-fifth Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 1, 2014
To Mortgage and Deed of Trust dated as of September 1, 1945



Trustees’ Signature Page

18



STATE OF MINNESOTA )
) SS
COUNTY OF ST. LOUIS )


On this 26th day of February, 2014, the foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me by Mark A. Schober, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of ALLETE, Inc., a Minnesota corporation, on behalf of the Company.

NOTARIAL STAMP OR SEAL

            
/s/ Jodi M. Nash
 
Jodi M. Nash
 
Notary Public - Minnesota
 
My Commission Expires Jan. 31, 2015
 


STATE OF MINNESOTA )
) SS
COUNTY OF ST. LOUIS )


On this 26th day of February, 2014, the foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me by Deborah A. Amberg, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of ALLETE, Inc., a Minnesota corporation, on behalf of the Company.

NOTARIAL STAMP OR SEAL

            
/s/ Jodi M. Nash
 
Jodi M. Nash
 
Notary Public - Minnesota
 
My Commission Expires Jan. 31, 2015
 





19

State of New York        )
)  SS:
County of New York        )

On this 26th day of February, 2014, the foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me by Laurance O'Brien and Francine Kincaid, the Vice President and Vice President, respectively, of The Bank of New York Mellon, the corporation named in the foregoing instrument.

Given under my hand and notarial seal this 26th day of February, 2014.
                    
/s/ Danny Lee
 
Notary Public, State of New York
 
Danny Lee, Notary Public
 
State of New York, NO. 01LE6161129
 
Qualified in New York County
 
Commission Expires February 20, 2015
 



State of New York        )
)  SS:
County of New York        )

On this 26th day of February, 2014, the foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me by Philip L. Watson, the person described in and who executed the foregoing instrument.

Given under my hand and notarial seal this 26th day of February, 2014.
    
/s/ Danny Lee
 
Notary Public, State of New York
 
Danny Lee, Notary Public
 
State of New York, NO. 01LE6161129
 
Qualified in New York County
 
Commission Expires February 20, 2015
 



20
ALE 3-31-2014 EX-31.A

Exhibit 31(a)


Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification by the Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002


I, Alan R. Hodnik, of ALLETE, Inc. (ALLETE), certify that:

1.
I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2014, of ALLETE;
2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.
The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
a.
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b.
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c.
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
d.
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5.
The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
a.
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b.
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.


Date: May 7, 2014
 
/s/ Alan R. Hodnik
 
 
Alan R. Hodnik
 
 
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
 




ALE 3-31-2014 EX-31.B

Exhibit 31(b)


Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification by the Chief Financial Officer
Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002


I, Steven Q. DeVinck, of ALLETE, Inc. (ALLETE), certify that:

1.
I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2014, of ALLETE;
2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.
The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
a.
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b.
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c.
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
d.
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5.
The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): 
a.
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b.
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.


Date: May 7, 2014
 
/s/ Steven Q. DeVinck
 
 
Steven Q. DeVinck
 
 
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
 



ALE 3-31-2014 EX-32

Exhibit 32


Section 1350 Certification of Periodic Report
By the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002


Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, each of the undersigned officers of ALLETE, Inc. (ALLETE), does hereby certify that:

1.
The Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of ALLETE for the period ended March 31, 2014, (Report) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m); and
2.
The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of ALLETE.
 


Date: May 7, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Alan R. Hodnik
 
 
 
Alan R. Hodnik
 
 
 
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
 
 



Date: May 7, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Steven Q. DeVinck
 
 
 
Steven Q. DeVinck
 
 
 
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
 
 


This certification shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or otherwise subject to liability pursuant to that section. Such certification shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except to the extent that ALLETE specifically incorporates it by reference.

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906, or other document authenticating, acknowledging, or otherwise adopting the signature that appears in typed form within the electronic version of this written statement required by Section 906, has been provided to ALLETE and will be retained by ALLETE and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.


ALE 3-31-2014 EX-95


Exhibit 95

Mine Safety Disclosure

 
Mine or Operating Name/MSHA Identification Number
Section 104 S&S Citations (#)
Section 104(b) Orders (#)
Section 104(d) Citations and Orders (#)
Section 110(b)(2) Violations (#)
Section 107(a) Orders (#)
Total Dollar Value of MSHA Assessments Proposed ($)
Total Number of Mining Related Fatalities (#)
Received Notice of Pattern of Violation Under Section 104(e) (yes/no)
Received Notice of Potential to Have Pattern Under Section 104(e) (yes/no)
Legal Actions Pending as of Last Day of Period (#)
Legal Actions Initiated During Period (#)
Legal Actions Resolved During Period (#)
 
 
 
Center Mine / 3200218
2
—
—
—
—
$54,140
—
No
No
—
—
—


For the quarter ended March 31, 2014, BNI Coal, owner of Center Mine, received two significant and substantial (S&S) citations under Section 104(a) of the Mine Safety Act with total penalties assessed on BNI with respect to these citations totaling $1,640. In addition, in 2013, BNI Coal had a S&S citation under Section 104(a) of the Mine and Safety Act for which the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) had not assessed or proposed a penalty in 2013; during the quarter ended March 31, 2014, a penalty of $52,500 was proposed by the MSHA. For the quarter ended March 31, 2014, there were no citations, orders, violations or notices received under Sections 104(b), 104(d), 107(a), 104(e) or 110(b)(2) of the Mine Safety Act and there were no fatalities.









ALE 3-31-2014 EX-99


 
Exhibit 99
For Release:
May 7, 2014
Investor Contact:
Tim Thorp
 
218-723-3953
 
tthorp@allete.com
 
 
NEWS
 
 

ALLETE reports first quarter results and reaffirms 2014 earnings guidance

DULUTH, Minn. - ALLETE, Inc. (NYSE:ALE) today reported its financial results for the first quarter of 2014. The company reported earnings per share of 80 cents compared with 83 cents in the same period a year ago. Included in this year’s results was $1.4 million after-tax, or three cents per share, of acquisition costs related to an ALLETE Clean Energy acquisition.

Compared with the first quarter of 2013, net income rose by $1 million to $33.5 million. Operating revenue for the first quarter of 2014 was $296.5 million, up twelve percent from $263.8 million in 2013. Earnings per share for the first quarter of 2014 were diluted by six cents due to an increase in the amount of common shares outstanding.

Net income at ALLETE’s Regulated Operations segment, which includes Minnesota Power, Superior, Water, Light and Power and the company’s investment in the American Transmission Company, was $33.9 million, an increase of $1.8 million or six percent over the first quarter of 2013. Unseasonably cold weather impacted electricity sales for the first quarter of 2014, which were three percent higher than the same period in 2013. Operating and maintenance, depreciation and interest expenses were also higher in 2014 compared with a year ago.

ALLETE’s Investments and Other segment, which includes BNI Coal, ALLETE Properties, ALLETE Clean Energy, and miscellaneous corporate income and expense, recorded a net loss of $0.4 million during the period compared to net income of $0.4 million a year ago. The net loss included the $1.4 million after-tax costs for ALLETE Clean Energy’s acquisition of wind energy facilities in January 2014. Quarterly results for BNI Coal and ALLETE Properties were similar to a year ago and ALLETE Clean Energy’s wind facilities were accretive to earnings.

“Strong operating performances at our businesses contributed to ALLETE’s first quarter earnings results,” said ALLETE Chairman, President and CEO Al Hodnik. “We are comfortably on track to meet our full year earnings guidance of between $2.75 and $2.95 per share, excluding costs associated with the ALLETE Clean Energy acquisition.”

The company will host a conference call and webcast at 10 a.m. Eastern time today to discuss details of its quarterly performance. Interested parties my listen live by calling (877) 303-5852, or by accessing the webcast at www.allete.com. A replay of the call will be available through May 9, 2014 by dialing (855) 859-2056, pass code 30490699.

ALLETE is an energy company headquartered in Duluth, Minn. In addition to its electric utilities, Minnesota Power and Superior Water, Light and Power, ALLETE owns BNI Coal in North Dakota, ALLETE Clean Energy, based in Duluth, and has an eight percent equity interest in the American Transmission Co. More information about ALLETE is available at www.allete.com.

The statements contained in this release and statements that ALLETE 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 ALLETE with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
ALLETE's press releases and other communications may include certain non-Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) financial measures. A "non-GAAP financial measure" is defined as a numerical measure of a company's financial performance, financial position or cash flows that excludes (or includes) amounts that are included in (or excluded from) the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP in the company's financial statements.
Non-GAAP financial measures utilized by the Company include presentations of earnings (loss) per share. ALLETE's management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information to investors by removing the effect of variances in GAAP reported results of operations that are not indicative of changes in the fundamental earnings power of the Company's operations. Management believes that the presentation of the non-GAAP financial measures is appropriate and enables investors and analysts to more accurately compare the company's ongoing financial performance over the periods presented.



ALLETE, Inc.
Consolidated Statement of Income
Millions Except Per Share Amounts - Unaudited
 
Quarter Ended
 
March 31,
 
2014
2013
 
 
 
Operating Revenue
$296.5
$263.8
 
 
 
Operating Expenses
 
 
Fuel and Purchased Power
96.2
86.5
Operating and Maintenance
119.8
104.7
Depreciation
32.2
28.2
Total Operating Expenses
248.2
219.4
 
 
 
Operating Income
48.3
44.4
 
 
 
Other Income (Expense)
 
 
Interest Expense
(12.8
)
(12.3
)
Equity Earnings in ATC
5.1
5.2
Other
2.0
2.7
Total Other Expense
(5.7
)
(4.4
)
 
 
 
Income Before Non-Controlling Interest and Income Taxes
42.6
40.0
Income Tax Expense
8.8
7.5
Net Income
33.8
32.5
Less: Non-Controlling Interest in Subsidiaries
0.3

—

Net Income Attributable to ALLETE
$33.5
$32.5
 
 
 
Average Shares of Common Stock
 
 
Basic
41.4

38.9

Diluted
41.6

39.0

 
 
 
Basic Earnings Per Share of Common Stock
$0.81
$0.83
Diluted Earnings Per Share of Common Stock
$0.80
$0.83
 
 
 
Dividends Per Share of Common Stock
$0.49
$0.475



Consolidated Balance Sheet
Millions - Unaudited
 
Mar. 31,
Dec. 31,
 
 
Mar. 31,
Dec. 31,
 
2014
2013
 
 
2014
2013
Assets
 
 
 
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
 
 
Cash and Cash Equivalents
$44.6
$97.3
 
Current Liabilities
$208.5
$230.2
Other Current Assets
224.8
209.7
 
Long-Term Debt
1,202.5
1,083.0
Property, Plant and Equipment - Net
2,905.1
2,576.5
 
Deferred Income Taxes
494.4
479.1
Regulatory Assets
267.0
263.8
 
Regulatory Liabilities
89.9
81.0
Investment in ATC
116.6
114.6
 
Defined Benefit Pension & Other
    Postretirement Benefit Plans
117.2
133.4
Other Investments
116.4
146.3
 
Other Non-Current Liabilities
229.3
127.2
Other Non-Current Assets
74.7
68.6
 
Shareholders’ Equity
1,407.4
1,342.9
Total Assets
$3,749.2
$3,476.8
 
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
$3,749.2
$3,476.8


 
Quarter Ended
ALLETE, Inc.
March 31,
Income (Loss)
2014
2013
Millions
 
 
Regulated Operations
$33.9
$32.1
Investments and Other
(0.4)
0.4

Net Income Attributable to ALLETE
$33.5
$32.5
Diluted Earnings Per Share
$0.80
$0.83

Statistical Data
 
 
Corporate
 
 
Common Stock
 
 
High
$52.73
$49.50
Low
$47.96
$41.39
Close
$52.42
$49.02
Book Value
$33.11
$31.07

Kilowatt-hours Sold
 
 
Millions
 
 
Regulated Utility
 
 
Retail and Municipals
 
 
Residential
398
354
Commercial
395
377
Municipals
242
274
Industrial
1,816
1,845
Total Retail and Municipal
2,851
2,850
Other Power Suppliers
700
591
Total Regulated Utility
3,551
3,441
Non-regulated Energy Operations
34
31
Total Kilowatt-hours Sold
3,585
3,472

Regulated Utility Revenue
 
 
Millions
 
 
Regulated Utility Revenue
 
 
Retail and Municipals
 
 
Residential
$37.3
$33.1
Commercial
32.8
31.3
Municipals
16.5
16.5
Industrial
104.4
102.2
Total Retail and Municipals
191.0
183.1
Other Power Suppliers
29.5
22.3
Other
43.7
36.0
Total Regulated Utility Revenue
$264.2
$241.4



This exhibit has been furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.