<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 JUNE 30, 1996, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<RESTATED>
       
                             
<MULTIPLIER>                                     1,000
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,118,422
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    367,313
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         376,581
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       108,881
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 136,834
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,108,031
<COMMON>                                       384,286
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            277,744
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 591,747
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           75,000
<PREFERRED>                                     31,492
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           653,039
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              89,330
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   70,060
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 527,080
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,108,031
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      411,178
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            15,077
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     339,347
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     367,864
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         49,923
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               4,898 <F1>
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  61,652
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        28,517
<NET-INCOME>                                    33,135
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      1,434
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   31,701
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        29,685
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                           6,120
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.10
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.10
<FN>
<F1>Includes $6,609,000 of Income from Equity Investments and $1,711,000 for
Distribution on Redeemable Preferred Securities of Subsidiary.
</FN>