<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM MINNESOTA
POWER'S CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET, STATEMENT OF INCOME, AND STATEMENT OF CASH
FLOW FOR THE PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 1996, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,119,224
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    330,322
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         334,616
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       109,384
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 134,162
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,027,708
<COMMON>                                       379,925
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            278,665
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 587,254
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           75,000
<PREFERRED>                                     48,547
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           576,362
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              45,096
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   68,821
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 555,292
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,027,708
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      202,676
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            10,324
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     163,465
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     177,625
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         28,828
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               3,777
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  32,664
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        14,160
<NET-INCOME>                                    18,504
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      1,001<F1>
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   17,503
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        15,078
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          47,094
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .61
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .61
<FN>
<F1>Includes $201,000 for Distributions on Company Obligated Mandatorily Redeemable
Preferred Securities of MP&L Capital I.
</FN>