Exhibit 23(a)

                       Consent of Independent Accountants


We  hereby  consent  to the  incorporation  by  reference  in  the  Registration
Statement  on Form S-8 (No.  33-51989)  of the  Minnesota  Power and  Affiliated
Companies  Employee  Stock  Purchase  Plan of our report dated January 22, 1996,
appearing  on page 21 of  Minnesota  Power & Light  Company's  Annual  Report to
Shareholders  which is  incorporated in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We also
consent  to the  incorporation  by  reference  of our  report  on the  Financial
Statement Schedule which appears on page 37 of this Form 10-K.

We also consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration  Statement
on Form S-8 (No.  33-32033)  of the  Minnesota  Power and  Affiliated  Companies
Supplemental  Retirement Plan of our report dated January 22, 1996, appearing on
page 21 of Minnesota Power & Light Company's Annual Report to Shareholders which
is  incorporated  in this  Annual  Report on Form 10-K.  We also  consent to the
incorporation  by reference of our report on the  Financial  Statement  Schedule
which appears on page 37 of this Form 10-K.

We also consent to the incorporation by reference in the Prospectus constituting
part of the Registration  Statement on Form S-3 (No.  33-51941) of the Minnesota
Power & Light  Company  Common  Stock of our  report  dated  January  22,  1996,
appearing  on page 21 of  Minnesota  Power & Light  Company's  Annual  Report to
Shareholders  which is  incorporated in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We also
consent  to the  incorporation  by  reference  of our  report  on the  Financial
Statement Schedule which appears on page 37 of this Form 10-K.

We also consent to the incorporation by reference in the Prospectus constituting
part of the Registration  Statement on Form S-3 (No.  33-50143) of the Minnesota
Power & Light  Company  Common  Stock of our  report  dated  January  22,  1996,
appearing  on page 21 of  Minnesota  Power & Light  Company's  Annual  Report to
Shareholders  which is  incorporated in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We also
consent  to the  incorporation  by  reference  of our  report  on the  Financial
Statement Schedule which appears on page 37 of this Form 10-K.

We also consent to the incorporation by reference in the Prospectus constituting
part of the Registration  Statement on Form S-3 (No.  33-56134) of the Minnesota
Power & Light Company Automatic Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan of
our report  dated  January 22, 1996,  appearing on page 21 of Minnesota  Power &
Light  Company's  Annual Report to  Shareholders  which is  incorporated in this
Annual Report on Form 10-K. We also consent to the incorporation by reference of
our report on the Financial  Statement Schedule which appears on page 37 of this
Form 10-K.

We also consent to the incorporation by reference in the Prospectus constituting
part of the Registration  Statement on Form S-3 (No.  33-55240) of the Minnesota
Power & Light Company First Mortgage Bonds of our report dated January 22, 1996,
appearing  on page 21 of  Minnesota  Power & Light  Company's  Annual  Report to
Shareholders  which is  incorporated in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We also
consent  to the  incorporation  by  reference  of our  report  on the  Financial
Statement Schedule which appears on page 37 of this Form 10-K.

We also consent to the incorporation by reference in the Prospectus constituting
part of the Registration  Statement on Form S-3 (No.  33-45551) of the Minnesota
Power & Light Company Serial Preferred Stock,  Cumulative,  Without Par Value of
our report  dated  January 22, 1996,  appearing on page 21 of Minnesota  Power &
Light  Company's  Annual Report to  Shareholders  which is  incorporated in this
Annual Report on Form 10-K. We also consent to the incorporation by reference of
our report on the Financial  Statement Schedule which appears on page 37 of this
Form 10-K.


Price Waterhouse LLP

PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP
Minneapolis, Minnesota
March 28, 1996