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 quarterly  period ended
     March 31, 2005 (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:  April 28, 2005                    Donald J. Shippar
                                         ---------------------------------------

                                         Donald J. Shippar
                                         President and Chief Executive Officer




Date:  April 28, 2005                    James K. Vizanko
                                         ---------------------------------------

                                         James K. Vizanko
                                         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.


                       ALLETE First Quarter 2005 Form 10-Q