Exhibit 99(b)


                        CERTIFICATION OF PERIODIC REPORT




I, James K. Vizanko, Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of
ALLETE, Inc. (Company), certify pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, that:

(1)  the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarterly period
     ended June 30, 2002 (Report) fully complies with the requirements of
     Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m or
     78o(d)); and

(2)  the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material
     respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Dated:  August 5, 2002



                                           James K. Vizanko
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           James K. Vizanko
                                           Vice President, Chief Financial
                                           Officer and Treasurer