<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 SEPTEMBER 30, 1996, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY
BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,117,059
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    394,524
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         362,443
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       106,666
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 164,945
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,145,637
<COMMON>                                       389,698
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            280,073
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 600,893
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           75,000
<PREFERRED>                                     31,492
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           638,845
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             150,508
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   64,745
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 515,276
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,145,637
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      626,327
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            17,777
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     519,530
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     564,123
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         71,645
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               9,441
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  98,461
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        44,593
<NET-INCOME>                                    53,868
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      5,141<F1>
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   48,727
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        44,382
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          40,229
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.68
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.68
<FN>
<F1>Includes $3,220,000 for distribution on Company Obligated Mandatorily
Redeemable Preferred Securities of MP&L Capital I.
</FN>