SEC Filing | ALLETE, Inc.

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ale-20221231

United States

Securities and Exchange Commission

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-K


(Mark One)
	☒	Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the year ended December 31, 2022


			☐			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)						(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

30 West Superior Street, Duluth, Minnesota 55802-2093

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

(218) 279-5000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:


Title of each class	Trading Symbol	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, without par value	ALE	New York Stock Exchange

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐ No ☒

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. Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 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 such files). Yes ☒ No ☐

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

Large Accelerated Filer ☒ Accelerated Filer ☐

Non-Accelerated Filer ☐ Smaller Reporting Company ☐

Emerging Growth Company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☒

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

The aggregate market value of voting stock held by nonaffiliates on June 30, 2022, was $3,349,606,300.

As of February 1, 2023, there were 57,252,864 shares of ALLETE Common Stock, without par value, outstanding.

Documents Incorporated By Reference

Portions of the Proxy Statement for the 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders are incorporated by reference in Part III.

Index


Definitions		4

Forward-Looking Statements		6

Part I		7
	Item 1. Business	7
	Regulated Operations	9
	Electric Sales / Customers	9
	Seasonality	12
	Power Supply	12
	Transmission and Distribution	14
	Investment in ATC	15
	Properties	15
	Regulatory Matters	15
	Regional Organizations	17
	Minnesota Legislation	17
	Competition	18
	Franchises	18
	ALLETE Clean Energy	18
	Corporate and Other	19
	New Energy	19
	Investment in Nobles 2	20
	South Shore Energy	20
	BNI Energy	20
	ALLETE Properties	20
	Non-Rate Base Generation and Miscellaneous	20
	Environmental Matters	21
	Human Capital Management	21
	Availability of Information	22
	Information about our Executive Officers	23
	Item 1A. Risk Factors	24
	Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments	34
	Item 2. Properties	34
	Item 3. Legal Proceedings	34
	Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures	34
Part II		35
	Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities	35
	Item 6. [Reserved]	36
	Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	36
	Overview	36
	202 2 Compared to 20 21	38

	Critical Accounting Policies	42
	Outlook	44
	Liquidity and Capital Resources	52
	Capital Requirements	55
	Environmental and Other Matters	55
	Market Risk	55
	Recently Adopted Accounting Standards	56
	Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk	56
	Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data	57

ALLETE, Inc. 2022 Form 10-K

Index (Continued)


	Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure	57
	Item 9A. Controls and Procedures	57
	Item 9B. Other Information	57
	Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections	57
Part III		58
	Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance	58
	Item 11. Executive Compensation	58
	Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters	59
	Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence	59
	Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services	59
Part IV		60
	Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules	60
	Item 16. Form 10-K Summary	64

Signatures		65

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm		67

Consolidated Financial Statements - Audited		69
	Consolidated Balance Sheet	69
	Consolidated Statement of Income	70
	Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income	71
	Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows	72
	Consolidated Statement of Equity	73
	Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements	74
	Note 1. Operations and Significant Accounting Policies	74
	Note 2. Property, Plant and Equipment	87
	Note 3. Jointly-Owned Facilities and Assets	88
	Note 4. Regulatory Matters	89
	Note 5. Acquisitions	93
	Note 6 . Equity Investments	94

	Note 7 . Fair Value	95
	Note 8 . Short-Term and Long-Term Debt	97
	Note 9 . Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies	100
	Note 10 . Common Stock and Earnings Per Share	108
	Note 1 1 . Income Tax Expense	109
	Note 1 2 . Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans	112
	Note 1 3 . Employee Stock and Incentive Plans	121
	Note 1 4 . Business Segments	123
	Note 1 5 . Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)	126
Schedule II		126

ALLETE, Inc. 2022 Form 10-K

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
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. and its subsidiaries
ALLETE Properties			ALLETE Properties, LLC and its subsidiaries
ALLETE South Wind			ALLETE South Wind, LLC
ALLETE Transmission Holdings			ALLETE Transmission Holdings, Inc.
ArcelorMittal			ArcelorMittal USA LLC
ATC			American Transmission Company LLC
Basin			Basin Electric Power Cooperative
Bison			Bison Wind Energy Center
BNI Energy			BNI Energy, Inc. and its subsidiary
Boswell			Boswell Energy Center
Camp Ripley			Camp Ripley Solar Array
Cenovus Energy			Cenovus Energy Inc.
CIP			Conservation Improvement Program
Cliffs			Cleveland-Cliffs Inc.
Company			ALLETE, Inc. and its subsidiaries
COVID-19			2019 novel coronavirus
DC			Direct Current
EIS			Environmental Impact Statement

EPA			United States Environmental Protection Agency

ESOP			Employee Stock Ownership Plan

FERC			Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Form 8-K			ALLETE Current Report on Form 8-K
Form 10-K			ALLETE Annual Report on Form 10-K
Form 10-Q			ALLETE Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
GAAP			Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States of America
GHG			Greenhouse Gases
GNTL			Great Northern Transmission Line
Hibbing Taconite			Hibbing Taconite Co.
Invest Direct			ALLETE’s Direct Stock Purchase and Dividend Reinvestment Plan
IRP			Integrated Resource Plan
Item ___			Item ___ of this Form 10-K
kV			Kilovolt(s)
kW / kWh			Kilowatt(s) / Kilowatt-hour(s)
Lampert Capital Markets			Lampert Capital Markets, Inc.
Laskin			Laskin Energy Center


Manitoba Hydro			Manitoba Hydro-Electric Board
MBtu			Million British thermal units

ALLETE, Inc. 2022 Form 10-K

Definitions (continued)


Abbreviation or Acronym			Term

Minnesota Power			An operating division of ALLETE, Inc.
Minnkota Power			Minnkota Power Cooperative, Inc.
MISO			Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc.


Moody’s			Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.
MPCA			Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
MPUC			Minnesota Public Utilities Commission
MW / MWh			Megawatt(s) / Megawatt-hour(s)
NAAQS			National Ambient Air Quality Standards
NDPSC			North Dakota Public Service Commission
NERC			North American Electric Reliability Corporation
New Energy			New Energy Equity LLC
Nobles 2			Nobles 2 Power Partners, LLC
NOL			Net Operating Loss

NOX			Nitrogen Oxides

Northshore Mining			Northshore Mining Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cliffs
Note ___			Note ___ to the consolidated financial statements in this Form 10-K

NPDES			National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
NTEC			Nemadji Trail Energy Center
NYSE			New York Stock Exchange
Oliver Wind I			Oliver Wind I Energy Center
Oliver Wind II			Oliver Wind II Energy Center

PolyMet			PolyMet Mining Corp.
PPA / PSA			Power Purchase Agreement / Power Sales Agreement
PPACA			Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010
PSCW			Public Service Commission of Wisconsin
RSOP			Retirement Savings and Stock Ownership Plan
SEC			Securities and Exchange Commission
S&P			S&P Global Ratings
Silver Bay Power			Silver Bay Power Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cliffs

SO2			Sulfur Dioxide
South Shore Energy			South Shore Energy, LLC
Square Butte			Square Butte Electric Cooperative, a North Dakota cooperative corporation

ST Paper			ST Paper LLC
SWL&P			Superior Water, Light and Power Company
Taconite Harbor			Taconite Harbor Energy Center
Taconite Ridge			Taconite Ridge Energy Center




Town Center District			Town Center at Palm Coast Community Development District in Florida
United Taconite			United Taconite LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cliffs
UPM Blandin			UPM, Blandin paper mill owned by UPM-Kymmene Corporation
U.S.			United States of America
USS Corporation			United States Steel Corporation
WTG			Wind Turbine Generator

ALLETE, Inc. 2022 Form 10-K

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-K, 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;

•changes in and compliance with laws and regulations;

•changes in tax rates or policies or in rates of inflation;

•the outcome of legal and administrative proceedings (whether civil or criminal) and settlements;

•weather conditions, natural disasters and pandemic diseases, including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic;

•our ability to access capital markets, bank financing and other financing sources;

•changes in interest rates and the performance of the financial markets;

•project delays or changes in project costs;

•changes in operating expenses and capital expenditures and our ability to raise revenues from our customers;

•the impacts of commodity prices on ALLETE and our customers;

•our ability to attract and retain qualified, skilled and experienced personnel;

•effects of emerging technology;

•war, acts of terrorism and cybersecurity attacks;

•our ability to manage expansion and integrate acquisitions;

•population growth rates and demographic patterns;

•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;

•effects of competition, including competition for retail and wholesale customers;

•effects of restructuring initiatives in the electric industry;

•the impacts on our businesses of climate change and future regulation to restrict the emissions of GHG;

•effects of increased deployment of distributed low-carbon electricity generation resources;

•the impacts of laws and regulations related to renewable and distributed generation;

•pricing, availability and transportation of fuel and other commodities and the ability to recover the costs of such commodities;

•our current and potential industrial and municipal customers’ ability to execute announced expansion plans;

•real estate market conditions where our legacy Florida real estate investment is located may deteriorate; and

•the success of efforts to realize value from, invest in, and develop new opportunities.

Additional disclosures regarding factors that could cause our results or performance to differ from those anticipated by this report are discussed in Part 1, Item 1A under the heading “Risk Factors” of this 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 it assess the impact of each of these factors on the businesses of ALLETE 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 ALLETE in this Form 10-K and in other reports filed with the SEC that attempt to identify the risks and uncertainties that may affect ALLETE’s business.

ALLETE, Inc. 2022 Form 10-K

Part I

Item 1. Business

Overview.

ALLETE is a leader in the nation’s clean-energy transformation. Our businesses and dedicated employees deliver sustainable energy solutions that mitigate climate change, build thriving communities, help customers reach their sustainability goals and drive value for shareholders. In 2020, ALLETE’s largest business, Minnesota Power, reached a milestone of providing 50 percent renewable energy to its retail and municipal customers in Minnesota, and the Company envisions delivering 100 percent carbon-free energy to customers by 2050—a vision grounded in a steadfast commitment to climate, customers and community through its EnergyForward strategy. ALLETE Clean Energy, our second-largest business, is positioned at the heart of society’s clean-energy transformation and owns, operates or is developing more than 1,300 megawatts of wind energy generation across eight states – helping some of the largest companies in the country reduce their carbon footprint.

Minnesota Power’s latest IRP, approved by the MPUC in an order dated January 9, 2023, outlines its clean-energy transition plans through 2035. These plans include expanding its renewable energy supply to 70 percent by 2030, achieving coal-free operations at its facilities by 2035, and investing in a resilient and flexible transmission and distribution grid. Minnesota Power has also set a target to achieve an 80 percent reduction in carbon emissions by 2035 compared to 2005 levels. As part of these plans, Minnesota Power anticipates adding up to 700 MW of new wind and solar energy resources, and ceasing coal operations at Boswell Units 3 and 4 by 2030 and 2035, respectively. Minnesota Power’s plans recognize that advances in technology will play a significant role in completing its transition to carbon-free energy supply, reliably and affordably.

In recent years, Minnesota Power has transformed its energy supply from more than a 95 percent reliance on coal to become a leader in the nation’s clean-energy transformation. Since 2013, the company has closed or converted seven of its nine coal-fired units and added nearly 900 megawatts of renewable energy sources. Additionally, Minnesota Power has been a leader in energy conservation, surpassing the state’s conservation goals each year for the past decade.

On February 7, 2023, the Minnesota Governor signed into law legislation that updates the state’s renewable energy standard and requires Minnesota electric utilities to source retail sales with 100 percent carbon-free energy by 2040. The Company is evaluating the law to identify challenges and opportunities it could present. (See Regulated Operations – Minnesota Legislation.)

ALLETE is also committed to earning a financial return that rewards our shareholders, allows for reinvestment in our businesses, and sustains growth. ALLETE is predominately a regulated utility through Minnesota Power, SWL&P, and an investment in ATC. ALLETE’s strategy is to remain predominately a regulated utility while investing in ALLETE Clean Energy and New Energy and its Corporate and Other businesses to complement its regulated businesses, balance exposure to the utility’s industrial customers, and provide potential long-term earnings growth.

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 portions of Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota and Illinois. Minnesota Power provides regulated utility electric service in northeastern Minnesota to approximately 150,000 retail customers. Minnesota Power also has 14 non-affiliated municipal customers in Minnesota. SWL&P is a Wisconsin utility and a wholesale customer of Minnesota Power. SWL&P provides regulated utility electric, natural gas and water service in northwestern Wisconsin to approximately 15,000 electric customers, 13,000 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. (See Note 4. Regulatory Matters.)

ALLETE Clean Energy focuses on developing, acquiring, and operating clean and renewable energy projects. ALLETE Clean Energy currently owns and operates, in seven states, more than 1,200 MW of nameplate capacity wind energy generation with a majority contracted under PSAs of various durations. In addition, ALLETE Clean Energy engages in the development of wind energy facilities to operate under long-term PSAs or for sale to others upon completion. ALLETE Clean Energy currently has approximately 100 MW of wind energy facilities under contract to be sold to others.

ALLETE, Inc. 2022 Form 10-K

Overview (Continued)

Corporate and Other is comprised of New Energy, a renewable development company; our investment in Nobles 2, an entity that owns and operates a 250 MW wind energy facility in southwestern Minnesota; South Shore Energy, our non-rate regulated, Wisconsin subsidiary developing NTEC, an approximately 600 MW proposed combined-cycle natural gas-fired generating facility; BNI Energy, our coal mining operations in North Dakota; ALLETE Properties, our legacy Florida real estate investment; other business development and corporate expenditures; unallocated interest expense; a small amount of non-rate base generation; land holdings in Minnesota; and earnings on cash and investments.

ALLETE is incorporated under the laws of Minnesota. Our corporate headquarters are in Duluth, Minnesota. Statistical information is presented as of December 31, 2022, 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.


Year Ended December 31	2022		2021		2020

Consolidated Operating Revenue – Millions (a)	$1,570.7		$1,419.2		$1,169.1

Percentage of Consolidated Operating Revenue
Regulated Operations	80	%	87	%	84	%
ALLETE Clean Energy	8	%	6	%	7	%
Corporate and Other (a)	12	%	7	%	9	%
	100	%	100	%	100	%

(a) 2022 includes revenue from New Energy, which was acquired in the second quarter of 2022. (See Note. 5 Acquisitions.)

For a detailed discussion of results of operations and trends, see Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. For business segment information, see Note 1. Operations and Significant Accounting Policies and Note 14. Business Segments.

ALLETE, Inc. 2022 Form 10-K

REGULATED OPERATIONS

Electric Sales / Customers


Regulated Utility Kilowatt-hours Sold
Year Ended December 31	2022	%	2021	%	2020	%
Millions
Retail and Municipal
Residential	1,148	9	1,135	7	1,134	9
Commercial	1,359	11	1,359	9	1,306	10
Industrial	6,745	52	7,196	47	6,192	47
Municipal	540	4	590	4	584	4
Total Retail and Municipal	9,792	76	10,280	67	9,216	70
Other Power Suppliers	3,149	24	5,102	33	4,039	30
Total Regulated Utility Kilowatt-hours Sold	12,941	100	15,382	100	13,255	100

Industrial Customers. In 2022, industrial customers represented 52 percent of total regulated utility kWh sales. Our industrial customers are primarily in the taconite mining, paper, pulp and secondary wood products, and pipeline industries.

The COVID-19 pandemic and related governmental responses led to a disruption of economic activity. This disruption resulted in reduced sales and revenue from industrial customers in 2020 as many industrial customers operated at reduced levels or were temporarily closed or idled during 2020. Sales to our industrial customers in 2021 were similar to levels prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022 Cliffs decided to idle all production at its Northshore mine until at least April 2023.


Industrial Customer Kilowatt-hours Sold
Year Ended December 31	2022	%	2021	%	2020	%
Millions
Taconite	4,713	70	5,281	73	4,296	69
Paper, Pulp and Secondary Wood Products	735	11	702	10	752	12
Pipelines and Other Industrial	1,297	19	1,213	17	1,144	19
Total Industrial Customer Kilowatt-hours Sold	6,745	100	7,196	100	6,192	100

Six taconite facilities served by Minnesota Power made up approximately 85 percent of 2021 iron ore pellet production in the U.S. according to data from the Minnesota Department of Revenue 2022 Mining Tax Guide. These taconite facilities are owned by Cliffs and USS Corporation. (See Large Power Customer Contracts.) Sales to taconite customers represented 4,713 million kWh, or 70 percent of total industrial customer kWh sales in 2022. Taconite, an iron‑bearing rock of relatively low iron content, is abundantly available in northern Minnesota and an important domestic source of raw material for the steel industry. Taconite processing plants use large quantities of electric power to grind the iron-bearing rock, and agglomerate and pelletize the iron particles into taconite pellets.

Minnesota Power’s taconite customers are capable of producing 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, which continue to lead the world in environmental performance among steelmaking countries. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, steel production in the U.S. is the most energy efficient of any major steel producing country. Steel produced from these North American facilities is used primarily in the manufacture of automobiles, appliances, tubular applications for all industries, and in the construction industry. Steel is also a critical component of the clean energy transformation underway today. The demand for more renewable energy and the need for additional infrastructure to transport green energy from the point of generation to the end user both require steel. Historically, less than 10 percent of Minnesota taconite production has been exported outside of North America.

ALLETE, Inc. 2022 Form 10-K

REGULATED OPERATIONS (Continued)

Industrial Customers (Continued)

There has been a general historical correlation between U.S. steel production and Minnesota taconite production. The American Iron and Steel Institute, an association of North American steel producers, reported that U.S. raw steel production operated at approximately 78 percent of capacity in 2022 (82 percent in 2021 and 68 percent in 2020). The World Steel Association, an association of steel producers, national and regional steel industry associations, and steel research institutes representing approximately 85 percent of world steel production, projected U.S. steel consumption in 2023 will increase by approximately 2 percent compared to 2022.

The following table reflects Minnesota Power’s taconite customers’ production levels for the past ten years:


Minnesota Power Taconite Customer Production
Year						Tons (Millions)
2022*						32
2021						39
2020						30
2019						37
2018						39
2017						38
2016						28
2015						31
2014						39
2013						37
Source: Minnesota Department of Revenue 2022 Mining Tax Guide for years 2013 - 2021.
* Preliminary data from the Minnesota Department of Revenue.

Minnesota Power’s taconite customers may experience annual variations in production levels due to such factors as economic conditions, short-term demand changes or maintenance outages. We estimate that a one million ton change in Minnesota Power’s taconite customers’ production would impact our annual earnings per share by approximately $0.04, net of expected power marketing sales at current prices. Changes in wholesale electric prices or customer contractual demand nominations could impact this estimate. Minnesota Power proactively sells power in the wholesale power markets that is temporarily not required by industrial customers to optimize the value of its generating facilities. Long-term reductions in taconite production or a permanent shut down of a taconite customer may lead Minnesota Power to file a general rate case to recover lost revenue.

In addition to serving the taconite industry, Minnesota Power serves a number of customers in the paper, pulp and secondary wood products industry, which represented 735 million kWh, or 11 percent of total industrial customer kWh sales in 2022. Minnesota Power also has an agreement to provide steam for one paper and pulp customer for use in the customer’s operations. The major paper and pulp mills we serve reported operating at similar levels in 2022 compared to 2021. Verso Corporation indefinitely idled its paper mill in Duluth, Minnesota, which it subsequently sold to ST Paper in May 2021. (See Outlook – Regulated Operations – Industrial Customers and Prospective Additional Load – Paper, Pulp and Secondary Wood Products – ST Paper.)

Large Power Customer Contracts. Minnesota Power had seven Large Power Customer contracts as of December 31, 2022, each serving requirements of 10 MW or more of customer load. The customers as of December 31, 2022 consisted of six taconite facilities owned by Cliffs and USS Corporation as well as three paper and pulp mills. Certain facilities with common ownership are served under combined contracts.

ALLETE, Inc. 2022 Form 10-K

REGULATED OPERATIONS (Continued)

Large Power Customer Contracts (Continued)

Large Power Customer contracts require Minnesota Power to have a certain amount of generating capacity available. In turn, each Large Power Customer is required to pay a minimum monthly demand charge that covers the fixed costs associated with having this capacity available to serve the customer, including a return on common equity. Most contracts allow customers to establish the level of megawatts subject to a demand charge on a three- to four-month basis and require that a portion of their megawatt needs be committed on a take-or-pay basis for at least a portion of the term of the agreement. In addition to the demand charge, each Large Power Customer is billed an energy charge for each kWh used that recovers the variable costs incurred in generating electricity. Five of the Large Power Customer contracts have interruptible service which provides a discounted demand rate in exchange for the ability to interrupt the customers during system emergencies. Minnesota Power also provides incremental production service for customer demand levels above the contractual take-or-pay levels. There is no demand charge for this service and energy is priced at an increment above Minnesota Power’s cost. Incremental production service is interruptible.

All contracts with Large Power Customers continue past the contract termination date unless the required advance notice of cancellation has been given. The required advance notice of cancellation varies from two to four years. Such contracts reduce the impact on earnings that otherwise would result from significant reductions in kWh sales to such customers. Large Power Customers are required to take all of their purchased electric service requirements from Minnesota Power for the duration of their contracts. The rates and corresponding revenue associated with capacity and energy provided under these contracts are subject to change through the same regulatory process governing all retail electric rates. (See Regulatory Matters – Electric Rates.)

Minnesota Power, as permitted by the MPUC, requires its taconite-producing Large Power Customers to pay weekly for electric usage based on monthly energy usage estimates. These customers receive estimated bills or make weekly prepayments based on Minnesota Power’s estimate of the customer’s energy usage, forecasted energy prices and fuel adjustment clause estimates. Minnesota Power’s taconite‑producing Large Power Customers have generally predictable energy usage on a week-to-week basis and any differences that occur are trued-up the following month.

Contract Status for Minnesota Power Large Power Customers

As of December 31, 2022

Customer

Industry

Location

Ownership

Earliest
Termination Date

Cliffs – Minorca Mine (a)

Taconite

Virginia, MN

Cliffs

December 31, 2026

Hibbing Taconite (a)

Taconite

Hibbing, MN

85.3% Cliffs
14.7% USS Corporation

December 31, 2026

United Taconite and Northshore Mining

Taconite

Eveleth, MN and Babbitt, MN

Cliffs

December 31, 2026

USS Corporation

(USS – Minnesota Ore) (a)(b)

Taconite

Mtn. Iron, MN and Keewatin, MN

USS Corporation

December 31, 2026

Boise, Inc. (a)

Paper

International Falls, MN

Packaging Corporation of America

December 31, 2026

UPM Blandin

Paper

Grand Rapids, MN

UPM-Kymmene Corporation

December 31, 2029

Sappi Cloquet LLC (a)

Paper and Pulp

Cloquet, MN

Sappi Limited

December 31, 2026

(a)The contract will terminate four years from the date of written notice from either Minnesota Power or the customer. No notice of contract cancellation has been given by either party. Thus, the earliest date of cancellation is December 31, 2026.

(b)USS Corporation owns both the Minntac Plant in Mountain Iron, MN, and the Keewatin Taconite Plant in Keewatin, MN.

ALLETE, Inc. 2022 Form 10-K

REGULATED OPERATIONS (Continued)

Residential and Commercial Customers. In 2022, residential and commercial customers represented 20 percent of total regulated utility kWh sales.

Municipal Customers. In 2022, municipal customers represented 4 percent of total regulated utility kWh sales.

Minnesota Power’s wholesale electric contracts with 14 non-affiliated municipal customers in Minnesota have termination dates ranging from 2029 through 2037, with a majority of contracts expiring in 2029. One of these wholesale contracts includes a termination clause requiring a three-year notice to terminate. (See Note 4. Regulatory Matters.)

Other Power Suppliers. The Company also enters into off-system sales with Other Power Suppliers. These sales are at market‑based prices into the MISO market on a daily basis or through bilateral agreements of various durations.

Our PSAs are detailed in Note 9. Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies, with additional disclosure provided in the following paragraphs.

Minnkota Power PSA. Minnesota Power has a PSA with Minnkota Power where Minnesota Power is selling a portion of its entitlement 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. Of Minnesota Power’s 50 percent output entitlement, it sold approximately 32 percent to Minnkota Power in 2022 (28 percent in 2021 and in 2020). Minnkota Power’s net entitlement increases to approximately 37 percent in 2023, 41 percent in 2024, 46 percent in 2025 and 50 percent in 2026. (See Power Supply – Long-Term Purchased Power.)

Silver Bay Power PSA. Minnesota Power has a PSA with Silver Bay Power through 2031 to supply the full energy requirements for Silver Bay Power. Silver Bay Power supplies approximately 90 MW of load to Northshore Mining, an affiliate of Silver Bay Power.

Hibbing Public Utilities. In April 2022, Minnesota Power entered into a new long-term Power Purchase and Market Energy Service Agreement with Hibbing Public Utilities for the period of June 1, 2022, through May 31, 2027. The agreement replaced the previous wholesale electric contract between Hibbing Public Utilities and Minnesota Power.

Seasonality

The operations of our industrial customers, which make up a large portion of our electric sales, are not typically subject to significant seasonal variations. (See Electric Sales / Customers.) As a result, Minnesota Power is generally not subject to significant seasonal fluctuations in electric sales; however, Minnesota Power and SWL&P electric and natural gas sales to other customers may be affected by seasonal differences in weather. In general, peak electric sales occur in the winter and summer months with fewer electric sales in the spring and fall months. Peak sales of natural gas generally occur in the winter months. Additionally, our regulated utilities have historically generated fewer sales and less revenue when weather conditions are milder in the winter and summer.

Power Supply

In order to meet its customers’ electric requirements, Minnesota Power utilizes a mix of its own generation and purchased power. As of December 31, 2022, approximately 50 percent of Minnesota Power’s power supply for its retail and municipal customers in Minnesota was provided by renewable energy sources. This was enabled by the completion of the 250 MW Nobles 2 wind energy facility in December 2020 and the GNTL in June 2020, which is used to deliver 250 MW of hydroelectric energy from Manitoba Hydro. Minnesota Power’s remaining operating coal-fired facilities are Boswell Units 3 and 4, which Minnesota Power plans to cease coal operations at by 2030 and 2035, respectively. (See Regulatory Matters.) The following table reflects Minnesota Power’s generating capabilities as of December 31, 2022, and total electrical supply for 2022. Minnesota Power had an annual net peak load of 1,556 MW on January 7, 2022.

ALLETE, Inc. 2022 Form 10-K

REGULATED OPERATIONS (Continued)

Power Supply (Continued)


					Year Ended
	Unit	Year	Net		December 31, 2022
Regulated Utility Power Supply	No.	Installed	Capability		Generation and Purchases
			MW		MWh	%
Coal-Fired
Boswell Energy Center (a)	3	1973	352
in Cohasset, MN	4	1980	468	(b)
			820		4,520,828	33.9
Taconite Harbor Energy Center	1 & 2	1957	150	(c)	—	—


Total Coal-Fired			970		4,520,828	33.9
Biomass Co-Fired / Natural Gas
Hibbard Renewable Energy Center in Duluth, MN	3 & 4	1949, 1951	60		134,049	1.0

Laskin Energy Center in Hoyt Lakes, MN	1 & 2	1953	98		122,277	0.9
Total Biomass Co-Fired / Natural Gas			158		256,326	1.9
Hydro (d)
Group consisting of ten stations in MN	Multiple	Multiple	120		546,876	4.1
Wind (e)
Taconite Ridge Energy Center in Mtn. Iron, MN	Multiple	2008	25		62,168	0.5
Bison Wind Energy Center in Oliver and Morton Counties, ND	Multiple	2010-2014	497		1,566,952	11.8
Total Wind			522		1,629,120	12.3
Solar (f)
Group consisting of two solar arrays in MN	Multiple	Multiple	10		16,169	0.1
Total Generation			1,780		6,969,319	52.3

Long-Term Purchased Power
Lignite Coal - Square Butte near Center, ND (g)					1,192,480	8.9
Wind - Oliver Wind I and II in Oliver County, ND					407,253	3.0
Wind - Nobles 2 in Nobles County, MN (h)					1,091,676	8.2
Hydro - Manitoba Hydro in Manitoba, Canada					1,460,000	11.0
Total Long-Term Purchased Power					4,151,409	31.1
Other Purchased Power (i)					2,210,192	16.6
Total Purchased Power					6,361,601	47.7
Total Regulated Utility Power Supply					13,330,920	100.0

(a) Minnesota Power anticipates ceasing coal operations at Boswell Units 3 and 4 by 2030 and 2035, respectively. (See Regulatory Matters.)

(b)Boswell Unit 4 net capability shown above reflects Minnesota Power’s ownership percentage of 80 percent. WPPI Energy owns 20 percent of Boswell Unit 4. (See Note 3. Jointly-Owned Facilities and Assets.)

(c)Taconite Harbor Units 1 and 2 were idled in 2016 and are planned to be retired in the first quarter of 2023. (See Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Outlook – EnergyForward.)

(d)Hydro consists of 10 stations with 34 generating units.

(e)Taconite Ridge consists of 10 WTGs and Bison consists of 165 WTGs.

(f)Solar includes the 10 MW Camp Ripley Solar Array near Little Falls, MN, and a 40 kW community solar garden in Duluth, MN.

(g)Minnesota Power has a PSA with Minnkota Power whereby Minnesota Power is selling a portion of its entitlement from Square Butte to Minnkota Power. (See Electric Sales / Customers – Minnkota Power PSA.)

(h)See Item 1. Business – Corporate and Other – Investment in Nobles 2.

(i)Includes short-term market purchases in the MISO market and from Other Power Suppliers.

ALLETE, Inc. 2022 Form 10-K

REGULATED OPERATIONS (Continued)

Power Supply (Continued)

Fuel. Minnesota Power purchases low-sulfur, sub-bituminous coal from the Powder River Basin region located in Montana and Wyoming. Coal consumption in 2022 for electric generation at Minnesota Power’s coal-fired generating stations was 2.7 million tons (2.7 million tons in 2021; 2.2 million tons in 2020). As of December 31, 2022, Minnesota Power had coal inventories of 0.8 million tons (0.4 million tons as of December 31, 2021). Minnesota Power has coal supply agreements providing for the purchase of a significant portion of its coal requirements through December 2023. In 2023, Minnesota Power expects to obtain coal under these coal supply agreements and in the spot market. Minnesota Power continues to explore other future coal supply options and believes that adequate supplies of low-sulfur, sub-bituminous coal will continue to be available.

Minnesota Power also has coal transportation agreements in place for the delivery of a significant portion of its coal requirements through December 2024. The costs of fuel and related transportation costs for Minnesota Power’s generation are recoverable from Minnesota Power’s utility customers through the fuel adjustment clause.


Coal Delivered to Minnesota Power
Year Ended December 31	2022	2021	2020
Average Price per Ton	$39.98	$39.51	$34.94
Average Price per MBtu	$2.25	$2.18	$1.93

Long-Term Purchased Power. Minnesota Power has contracts to purchase capacity and energy from various entities, including output from certain coal, wind, hydro and solar generating facilities.

Our PPAs are detailed in Note 9. Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies, with additional disclosure provided in the following paragraph.

Square Butte PPA. Under the PPA with Square Butte that extends through 2026, Minnesota Power is entitled to 50 percent of the output of Square Butte’s 455 MW coal-fired generating unit. (See Note 9. Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies.) BNI Energy mines and sells lignite coal to Square Butte. This lignite supply is sufficient to provide fuel for the anticipated useful life of the generating unit. Square Butte’s cost of lignite consumed in 2022 was approximately $2.05 per MBtu ($1.94 per MBtu in 2021; $1.75 per MBtu in 2020). (See Electric Sales / Customers – Minnkota Power PSA.)

Manitoba Hydro. Minnesota Power has two long-term PPAs with Manitoba Hydro. The first PPA provides for Minnesota Power to purchase 250 MW of capacity and energy from Manitoba Hydro through May 2035. The second PPA provides for Minnesota Power to purchase up to 133 MW of energy from Manitoba Hydro through June 2040. A third PPA, which expired in April 2022 was an energy-only agreement, which primarily consisted of surplus hydro energy on Manitoba Hydro’s system that was delivered to Minnesota Power on a non-firm basis.

Transmission and Distribution

We have electric transmission and distribution lines of 500 kV (232 miles), 345 kV (241 miles), 250 kV (466 miles), 230 kV (715 miles), 161 kV (43 miles), 138 kV (8 miles), 115 kV (1,376 miles) and less than 115 kV (6,416 miles). We own and operate 162 substations with a total capacity of 10,116 megavoltamperes. Some of our transmission and distribution lines interconnect with other utilities.

Great Northern Transmission Line. As a condition of the 250 MW long-term PPA entered into with Manitoba Hydro, construction of additional transmission capacity was required. As a result, Minnesota Power constructed the GNTL, an approximately 220‑mile 500-kV transmission line between Manitoba and Minnesota’s Iron Range that was proposed by Minnesota Power and Manitoba Hydro in order to strengthen the electric grid, enhance regional reliability and promote a greater exchange of sustainable energy. In June 2020, Minnesota Power placed the GNTL into service with project costs of approximately $310 million incurred by Minnesota Power. Total project costs, including those costs contributed by a subsidiary of Manitoba Hydro, totaled approximately $660 million. The 250 MW PPA with Manitoba Hydro commenced when the GNTL was placed into service.

ALLETE, Inc. 2022 Form 10-K

REGULATED OPERATIONS (Continued)

Investment in ATC

Our wholly-owned subsidiary, ALLETE Transmission Holdings, owns approximately 8 percent of ATC, a Wisconsin-based utility that owns and maintains electric transmission assets in portions of Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota and Illinois. We account for our investment in ATC under the equity method of accounting. As of December 31, 2022, our equity investment in ATC was $165.4 million ($154.5 million as of December 31, 2021). (See Note 6. Equity Investments.)

ATC’s authorized return on equity is 10.02 percent, or 10.52 percent including an incentive adder for participation in a regional transmission organization, based on a 2020 FERC order which is subject to various outstanding legal challenges related to the return on equity calculation and refund period ordered by the FERC. On August 9, 2022, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit vacated and remanded the 2020 FERC order back to the FERC. As a result of this decision, ATC recorded a reserve in the third quarter of 2022 for anticipated refunds to its customers for approximately $31 million of which our share was approximately $2.4 million pre-tax. We cannot predict the return on equity the FERC will ultimately authorize in the remanded proceeding.

In addition, the FERC issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in April 2021 proposing to limit the 50 basis point incentive adder for participation in a regional transmission organization to only the first three years of membership in such an organization. If this proposal is adopted, our equity in earnings from ATC would be reduced by approximately $1 million pre-tax annually.

ATC’s most recent 10-year transmission assessment, which covers the years 2022 through 2031, identifies a need for between $5.1 billion and $6.2 billion in transmission system investments. These investments by ATC, if undertaken, 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.

Properties

Our Regulated Operations businesses own office and service buildings, an energy control center, repair shops, electric plants, transmission facilities and storerooms in various localities in Minnesota, Wisconsin and North Dakota. All of the electric plants are subject to mortgages, which collateralize the outstanding first mortgage bonds of Minnesota Power and SWL&P. Most of the generating plants and substations are located on real property owned by Minnesota Power or SWL&P, subject to the lien of a mortgage, whereas most of the transmission and distribution lines are located on real property owned by others with appropriate easement rights or necessary permits from governmental authorities. WPPI Energy owns 20 percent of Boswell Unit 4. WPPI Energy has the right to use our transmission line facilities to transport its share of Boswell generation. (See Note 3. Jointly-Owned Facilities and Assets.)

Regulatory Matters

We are subject to the jurisdiction of various regulatory authorities and other organizations. Regulatory matters and proceedings are detailed in Note 4. Regulatory Matters, with a summary included in the following paragraphs.

Electric Rates. All rates and contract terms in our Regulated Operations are subject to approval by applicable regulatory authorities. Minnesota Power and SWL&P design their retail electric service rates based on cost of service studies under which allocations are made to the various classes of customers as approved by the MPUC or the PSCW. Nearly all retail sales include billing adjustment clauses, which may adjust electric service rates for changes in the cost of fuel and purchased energy, recovery of current and deferred conservation improvement program expenditures and recovery of certain transmission, renewable and environmental investments.

Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. The MPUC has regulatory authority over Minnesota Power’s retail service area in Minnesota, retail rates, retail services, capital structure, issuance of securities and other matters. Minnesota Power’s current retail rates through 2021 were based on a 2018 MPUC retail rate order that allows for a 9.25 percent return on common equity and a 53.81 percent equity ratio. The resolution of Minnesota Power’s 2020 general rate case did not change the allowed return on equity or equity ratio. (See 2020 Minnesota General Rate Case.) As authorized by the MPUC, Minnesota Power also recognizes revenue under cost recovery riders for transmission and renewable investments.

ALLETE, Inc. 2022 Form 10-K

REGULATED OPERATIONS (Continued)

Regulatory Matters (Continued)

2020 Minnesota General Rate Case. In November 2019, Minnesota Power filed a retail rate increase request with the MPUC seeking an average increase of approximately 10.6 percent for retail customers.

In April 2020, Minnesota Power filed a request with the MPUC that proposed a resolution of Minnesota Power’s 2020 general rate case. Key components of our proposal included removing the power marketing margin credit in base rates and reflecting actual power marketing margins in the fuel adjustment clause effective May 1, 2020; refunding to customers interim rates collected through April 2020; increasing customer rates 4.1 percent compared to the 5.8 percent increase reflected in interim rates; and a provision that Minnesota Power would not file another rate case until at least November 1, 2021, unless certain events occur. In a June 2020 order, the MPUC approved Minnesota Power’s petition and proposal to resolve and withdraw the general rate case. Effective May 1, 2020, customer rates were set at an increase of 4.1 percent with the removal of the power marketing margin credit from base rates. Actual power marketing margins are now reflected in the fuel adjustment clause. Reserves for interim rates of $11.7 million were recorded in the second quarter of 2020 and refunded in the third and fourth quarters of 2020.

2022 Minnesota General Rate Case. On November 1, 2021, Minnesota Power filed a retail rate increase request with the MPUC seeking an average increase of approximately 18 percent for retail customers. The rate filing seeks a return on equity of 10.25 percent and a 53.81 percent equity ratio. On an annualized basis, the requested final rate increase would generate approximately $108 million in additional revenue. In orders dated December 30, 2021, the MPUC accepted the filing as complete and authorized an annual interim rate increase beginning January 1, 2022, with approximately $80 million expected to be collected in cash and approximately $8 million of interim rates for residential customers deferred with a final determination on recovery at the end of the rate case.

At a hearing on January 23, 2023, the MPUC made determinations regarding Minnesota Power’s general rate case including allowing a return on common equity of 9.65 percent and a 52.50 percent equity ratio. Upon commencement of final rates, we expect additional revenue from base rates of approximately $60 million and an additional $10 million in revenue recognized under cost recovery riders on an annualized basis, subject to final written order and reconsideration. Final rates are expected to commence in the third quarter of 2023; interim rates will be collected through this period with reserves recorded as necessary. As a result of the MPUC’s determinations made on January 23, 2023, Minnesota Power has recorded a reserve for an interim rate refund of approximately $18 million pre-tax as of December 31, 2022, which is subject to MPUC approval of Minnesota Power’s refund calculation. In addition, Minnesota Power recorded a charge of approximately $8 million pre-tax to write-off the deferred portion of residential customer interim rates. Minnesota Power also recorded additional revenue of approximately $9 million pre-tax for an increase in expected recoveries under its cost recovery riders.

Minnesota Power Land Sales. In August 2020, Minnesota Power filed a petition with the MPUC for approval to sell land that surrounds several reservoirs on its hydroelectric system and is no longer required to maintain its operations. The land has an estimated value of approximately $100 million, and Minnesota Power proposed to credit ratepayers the net proceeds from the sales in a future rate case or through its renewable resources rider to mitigate future rate increases. In an order dated November 18, 2021, the MPUC authorized the land sales and directed the net proceeds to be refunded to ratepayers subject to certain conditions and required compliance filings.

2021 Integrated Resource Plan. On February 1, 2021, Minnesota Power filed its latest IRP, which was approved by the MPUC in an order dated January 9, 2023. The approved IRP, which reflects a joint agreement reached with various stakeholders, outlines Minnesota Power’s clean-energy transition plans through 2035. These plans include expanding its renewable energy supply, achieving coal-free operations at its facilities by 2035, and investing in a resilient and flexible transmission and distribution grid. As part of these plans, Minnesota Power anticipates adding up to 700 MW of new wind and solar energy resources, and ceasing coal operations at Boswell Units 3 and 4 by 2030 and 2035, respectively. Minnesota Power’s plans recognize that advances in technology will play a significant role in completing its transition to carbon-free energy supply, reliably and affordably. Minnesota Power is expected to file its next IRP by March 1, 2025.

Minnesota Power has a vision to deliver 100 percent carbon-free energy to customers by 2050, continuing its commitment to climate, customers and communities through its EnergyForward strategy. This vision builds on Minnesota Power’s achievement, in 2020, of now providing 50 percent renewable energy to its customers.

ALLETE, Inc. 2022 Form 10-K

REGULATED OPERATIONS (Continued)

Regulatory Matters (Continued)

Public Service Commission of Wisconsin. The PSCW has regulatory authority over SWL&P’s retail sales of electricity, natural gas and water, issuances of securities and other matters. SWL&P’s retail rates through 2022 were based on a December 2018 order by the PSCW that allowed for a return on equity of 10.4 percent and a 55.0 percent equity ratio.

In 2022, SWL&P filed a rate increase request with the PSCW seeking an average increase of 3.6 percent for retail customers. The filing sought an overall return on equity of 10.4 percent and a 55 percent equity ratio. On an annualized basis, the requested final rate increase would have generated an estimated $4.3 million in additional revenue. In an order dated December 20, 2022, the PSCW approved an annual increase of $3.3 million reflecting a return on equity of 10.0 percent and 55 percent equity ratio. Final rates went into effect January 1, 2023.

North Dakota Public Service Commission. The NDPSC has jurisdiction over site and route permitting of generation and transmission facilities in North Dakota.

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The FERC has jurisdiction over the licensing of hydroelectric projects, the establishment of rates and charges for transmission of electricity in interstate commerce, electricity sold at wholesale (including the rates for Minnesota Power’s municipal and wholesale customers), natural gas transportation, certain accounting and record‑keeping practices, certain activities of our regulated utilities and the operations of ATC. FERC jurisdiction also includes enforcement of NERC mandatory electric reliability standards. Violations of FERC rules are subject to enforcement action by the FERC including financial penalties up to $1 million per day per violation.

Regional Organizations

Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc. Minnesota Power, SWL&P and ATC are members of MISO, a regional transmission organization. While Minnesota Power and SWL&P retain ownership of their respective transmission assets, their transmission networks are under the regional operational control of MISO. Minnesota Power and SWL&P take and provide transmission service under the MISO open access transmission tariff. In cooperation with stakeholders, MISO manages the delivery of electric power across 15 states and the Canadian province of Manitoba.

North American Electric Reliability Corporation. The NERC has been certified by the FERC as the national electric reliability organization. The NERC ensures the reliability of the North American bulk power system. The NERC oversees six regional entities that establish requirements, approved by the FERC, for reliable operation and maintenance of power generation facilities and transmission systems. Minnesota Power is subject to these reliability requirements and can incur significant penalties for non‑compliance.

Midwest Reliability Organization (MRO). Minnesota Power and ATC are members of the MRO, one of the six regional entities overseen by the NERC. The MRO's primary responsibilities are to: ensure compliance with mandatory reliability standards by entities which own, operate or use the interconnected, international bulk power system; conduct assessments of the grid's ability to meet electricity demand in the region; and analyze regional system events. The MRO region spans the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba, and all or parts of 16 states.

Minnesota Legislation

Renewable and Carbon-Free Energy Requirements. On February 7, 2023, the Minnesota Governor signed into law legislation that updates the state’s renewable energy standard and requires Minnesota electric utilities to source retail sales with 100 percent carbon-free energy by 2040. The law increases the renewable energy standard from 25 percent renewable by 2025 to 55 percent renewable by 2035, and requires investor-owned Minnesota utilities to provide 80 percent carbon-free energy by 2030, 90 percent carbon-free energy by 2035 and 100 percent carbon-free energy by 2040. The law utilizes renewable energy credits as the means to demonstrate compliance with both the carbon-free and renewable energy standards, includes an off ramp provision that enables the MPUC to protect reliability and customer costs through modification or delay of either the renewable energy standard, the carbon-free standard, or both, and streamlines development and construction of wind energy projects and transmission in Minnesota. The Company is evaluating the law to identify challenges and opportunities it could present.

As of December 31, 2022, approximately 50 percent of Minnesota Power’s power supply for its retail and municipal customers in Minnesota was provided by renewable energy sources. Minnesota Power’s plans include expanding its renewable energy supply to 70 percent renewable energy by 2030. (See Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Outlook – EnergyForward.)

ALLETE, Inc. 2022 Form 10-K

REGULATED OPERATIONS (Continued)

Minnesota Legislation (Continued)

Minnesota Solar Energy Standard. Minnesota law requires at least 1.5 percent of total retail electric sales, excluding sales to certain customers, to be generated by solar energy. At least 10 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 40 kW or less and community solar garden subscriptions. Minnesota Power has met both parts of the solar mandate to date.

Competition

Retail electric energy sales in Minnesota and Wisconsin are made to customers in assigned service territories. As a result, most retail electric customers in Minnesota do not have the ability to choose their electric supplier. Large energy users of 2 MW and above that are located outside of a municipality are allowed to choose a supplier upon MPUC approval. Minnesota Power served seven Large Power Customers under contracts of at least 10 MW in 2022, none of which have engaged in a competitive rate process. (See Electric Sales / Customers.) No other large commercial or small industrial customers in Minnesota Power’s service territory have sought a provider outside Minnesota Power’s service territory. Retail electric and natural gas customers in Wisconsin do not have the ability to choose their energy supplier. In both states, however, electricity may compete with other forms of energy. Customers may also choose to generate their own electricity, or substitute other forms of energy for their manufacturing processes.

In 2022, 4 percent of total regulated utility kWh sales were to municipal customers in Minnesota. These customers have the right to seek an energy supply from any wholesale electric service provider upon contract expiration. Minnesota Power’s wholesale electric contract with the Nashwauk Public Utilities Commission was extended in 2020 and is effective through December 31, 2037. Minnesota Power’s wholesale electric contracts with 13 other non-affiliated municipal customers are effective through 2029. (See Electric Sales / Customers.)

The FERC has continued with its efforts to promote a competitive wholesale market through open-access electric transmission and other means. As a result, our electric sales to Other Power Suppliers and our purchases to supply our retail and wholesale load are made in a competitive market.

Franchises

Minnesota Power holds franchises to construct and maintain an electric distribution and transmission system in 95 cities. The remaining cities, villages and towns served by Minnesota Power do not require a franchise to operate. SWL&P serves customers under electric, natural gas or water franchises in 1 city and 14 villages and towns.

ALLETE CLEAN ENERGY

ALLETE Clean Energy believes the market for renewable energy in North America is robust, driven by several factors including environmental regulation, tax incentives such as the extension of production tax credit and investment tax credits, societal expectations and continual technology advances. State renewable portfolio standards, state or federal regulations to limit GHG emissions and the extension of production tax credit and investment tax credits are examples of environmental regulation or public policy that we believe will drive renewable energy development.

ALLETE, Inc. 2022 Form 10-K

ALLETE CLEAN ENERGY (Continued)

ALLETE Clean Energy’s strategy includes the safe, reliable, optimal and profitable operation of its existing facilities. This includes a strong safety culture, the continuous pursuit of operational efficiencies at existing facilities and cost controls. ALLETE Clean Energy generally acquires facilities in liquid power markets and its strategy includes the exploration of PSA extensions upon expiration of existing contracts, production tax credit requalification of existing facilities or the sale of facilities.

ALLETE Clean Energy manages risk by having a diverse portfolio of assets, which includes PSA expiration, technology and geographic diversity. The current operating portfolio is subject to typical variations in seasonal wind with higher wind resources typically available in the winter months. The majority of its planned maintenance leverages this seasonality and is performed during lower wind periods. ALLETE Clean Energy’s current operating portfolio is as follows:


Region	Wind Energy Facility	Capacity MW	PSA MW	PSA Expiration
East	Armenia Mountain	101	100%	2024



Midwest	Lake Benton	104	100%	2028
	Storm Lake I	108	100%	2027
	Storm Lake II	77
	Merchant		90%	n/a
	PSA		10%	2032
	Other	17	100%	2028
South	Caddo	303
	Merchant		27%	n/a
	PSA 1		66%	2034
	PSA 2		7%	2034
	Diamond Spring	303
	PSA 1		58%