
                                                                EXHIBIT 23(a)

                      CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration 
Statement on Form S-8 (No. 33-51989) of the Minnesota Power and Affiliated 
Companies Employee Stock Purchase Plan of our report dated January 24, 1995, 
appearing on page 24 of the Annual Report to Shareholders which appears on page 
28 of this Form 8-K.

We also consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement 
on Form S-8 (No. 33-32033) of the Minnesota Power and Affiliated Companies 
Supplemental Retirement Plan of our report dated January 24, 1995, appearing on 
page 24 of the Annual Report to Shareholders which appears on page 28 of this 
Form 8-K.

We also consent to the incorporation by reference in the Prospectus 
constituting part of the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 33-51941) of 
the Minnesota Power & Light Company Common Stock of our report dated January 
24, 1995, appearing on page 24 of the Annual Report to Shareholders which 
appears on page 28 of this Form 8-K.

We also consent to the incorporation by reference in the Prospectus 
constituting part of the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 33-50143) of 
the Minnesota Power & Light Company Common Stock of our report dated January 
24, 1995, appearing on page 24 of the Annual Report to Shareholders which 
appears on page 28 of this Form 8-K.

We also consent to the incorporation by reference in the Prospectus 
constituting part of the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 33-56134) of 
the Minnesota Power & Light Company Automatic Dividend Reinvestment and Stock 
Purchase Plan of our report dated January 24, 1995, appearing on page 24 of the 
Annual Report to Shareholders which appears on page 28 of this Form 8-K.

We also consent to the incorporation by reference in the Prospectus 
constituting part of the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 33-55240) of 
the Minnesota Power & Light Company First Mortgage Bonds of our report dated 
January 24, 1995, appearing on page 24 of the Annual Report to Shareholders 
which appears on page 28 of this Form 8-K.

We also consent to the incorporation by reference in the Prospectus 
constituting part of the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 33-45551) of 
the Minnesota Power & Light Company Serial Preferred Stock, Cumulative, Without 
Par Value of our report dated January 24, 1995, appearing on page 24 of the 
Annual Report to Shareholders which appears on page 28 of this Form 8-K.


PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP
Minneapolis, Minnesota
February 27, 1995


