<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>
<RESTATED>
<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>                               3,576 <F1>
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  32,463
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        14,160
<NET-INCOME>                                    18,303
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        800
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   17,503
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        15,078
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          43,317
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .61
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .61
<FN>
<F1>Includes $3,777,000 of Income from Equity Investments and $201,000 for
Distributions on Redeemable Preferred Securities of Subsidiary.
</FN>