EXHIBIT 23(a)



                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


     We hereby  consent to the  incorporation  by reference in the  Registration
Statements  on  Form  S-8  (Nos.  33-51989,  333-26755,   333-16445,  333-16463,
333-82901,  333-91348)  of ALLETE,  Inc.  of our report  dated  January 20, 2003
relating to the consolidated  financial statements,  which appears on page 56 of
this  Annual  Report on Form  10-K.  We also  consent  to the  incorporation  by
reference  of our report  dated  January  20,  2003  relating  to the  financial
statement schedule, which appears on page 78 of this Form 10-K.


     We  also  consent  to the  incorporation  by  reference  in the  Prospectus
constituting  part of the Registration  Statements on Form S-3 (Nos.  333-02109,
333-40797,  333-58945, 333-41882, 333-54330, 333-57104, 333-71320, 333-91346) of
ALLETE,  Inc. of our report dated January 20, 2003 relating to the  consolidated
financial  statements,  which  appears on page 56 of this Annual  Report on Form
10-K.  We also  consent to the  incorporation  by  reference of our report dated
January 20, 2003 relating to the financial statement schedule,  which appears on
page 78 of this Form 10-K.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP
Minneapolis, Minnesota
February 13, 2003