
<TABLE> <S> <C>

<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, 1995, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1995
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,093,843
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    221,025
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         450,081
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       107,207
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,872,156
<COMMON>                                       372,634
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            279,370
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 577,744
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                     48,547
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           568,725
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 178,470
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    9,878
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 414,532
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,872,156
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      294,022
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           (9,892)<F1>
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     242,789
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     265,278
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         24,836
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                             (1,066)<F2>
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  60,059
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        22,489
<NET-INCOME>                                    37,570
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      1,600
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   35,970
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        29,246
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          47,751
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.27
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.27
<FN>
<F1> Includes tax benefits related to Lehigh Acquisition Corporation,
Minnesota Power's real estate company.
<F2> Includes Loss from Equity Investments and Income from Discontinued
Operations.
</FN>
        

</TABLE>
