<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>
<RESTATED>
<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>                               6,221 <F1>
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  95,241
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        44,593
<NET-INCOME>                                    50,648
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      1,921
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   48,727
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        44,382
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          37,009
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.68
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.68
<FN>
<F1>Includes $9,441,000 of Income from Equity Investments and $3,220,000 for
Distribution on Redeemable Preferred Securities of Subsidiary.
</FN>