
<PAGE>

                                                                  Exhibit 23(b)

                         Consent of Independent Auditors


We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form
S-8 No.  33-51989)  pertaining to the Minnesota  Power and Affiliated  Companies
Employee  Stock  Purchase Plan of our report dated February 9, 1995 (except Note
14, as to which the date is February 23, 1995), with respect to the consolidated
financial  statements  of ADESA  Corporation,  which were  included in Minnesota
Power & Light  Company's  Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 12, 1995, and of
our report  dated  January  17,  1996  (except  Note 13, as to which the date is
January 19,  1996),  with respect to the  consolidated  financial  statements of
ADESA  Corporation  (not  presented   separately   therein),   included  in  the
consolidated  financial  statements of Minnesota  Power & Light Company that are
included in Minnesota Power & Light Company's  Current Report on Form 8-K, dated
February 16, 1996.

We also consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration  Statement
(Form S-8 No.  33-32033) pertaining to the Minnesota  Power and  Affiliated 
Companies Supplemental Retirement Plan of our report dated February 9, 1995 
(except Note 14, as to which the date is  February  23,  1995),  with  respect  
to the  consolidated financial  statements  of ADESA  Corporation,  which were  
included in Minnesota Power & Light  Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated
July 12, 1995, and of our report  dated  January  17,  1996  (except  Note 13, 
as to which the date is January 19,  1996),  with respect to the  consolidated  
financial  statements of ADESA  Corporation  (not  presented   separately   
therein), included  in  the consolidated  financial  statements of Minnesota  
Power & Light Company that are included in Minnesota Power & Light Company's  
Current Report on Form 8-K, dated February 16, 1996.

We also consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration  Statement
(Form S-3 No.  33-51941) of the Minnesota Power & Light Company and in the 
related Prospectus of our report dated February 9, 1995 (except Note 14,  as to 
which  the date is  February  23,  1995),  with  respect  to the consolidated  
financial statements of ADESA Corporation,  which were included in Minnesota  
Power & Light  Company's Current  Report on Form 8-K dated  July 12, 1995,  and
of our report dated January 17, 1996 (except Note 13, as to which the date is 
January 19, 1996), with respect to the consolidated financial statements of  
ADESA  Corporation  (not  presented  separately  therein),  included  in the
consolidated  financial  statements of Minnesota Power & Light Company that are
included in Minnesota Power & Light Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated
February 16, 1996.

We also consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration  Statement
(Form S-3 No. 33-50143) of the Minnesota Power & Light Company and in the 
related Prospectus of our report dated February 9, 1995 (except Note 14,  as to 
which  the date is  February  23,  1995),  with  respect  to the consolidated  
financial statements of ADESA Corporation,  which were included in Minnesota  
Power & Light  Company's  Current  Report on Form 8-K dated  July 12, 1995,  and
of our report dated January 17, 1996 (except Note 13, as to which the date is 
January 19, 1996), with respect to the consolidated financial statements of  
ADESA  Corporation  (not  presented  separately  therein),  included  in the 
consolidated  financial  statements of Minnesota Power & Light Company that are
included in Minnesota Power & Light Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated
February 16, 1996.


<PAGE>


We also consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration  Statement
(Form S-3 No. 33-56134) of the Minnesota Power & Light Company and in the 
related Prospectus of our  report  dated  February  9, 1995  (except  Note 14, 
as to which the date is February 23, 1995),  with respect to the  consolidated  
financial  statements of ADESA  Corporation,  which were  included in Minnesota 
Power & Light  Company's Current  Report on Form 8-K dated July 12, 1995, and of
our report dated January 17,  1996  (except  Note 13, as to which the date is  
January  19,  1996),  with respect to the  consolidated  financial  statements  
of ADESA  Corporation  (not presented separately therein), included in the 
consolidated financial statements of Minnesota  Power & Light Company that are 
included in Minnesota Power & Light Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated
February 16, 1996.

We also consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration  Statement
(Form S-3 No.  33-55240) of the Minnesota Power & Light Company and in the 
related Prospectus of our report dated February 9, 1995 (except Note 14, as to 
which the date is February 23, 1995), with respect to the consolidated  
financial statements of ADESA Corporation,  which were included in Minnesota  
Power & Light  Company's  Current  Report on Form 8-K dated  July 12, 1995,  and
of our report dated January 17, 1996 (except Note 13, as to which the date is 
January 19, 1996), with respect to the consolidated financial statements of  
ADESA  Corporation  (not  presented  separately  therein),  included  in the 
consolidated  financial  statements of Minnesota  Power & Light Company that are
included in Minnesota Power & Light Company's  Current Report on Form 8-K, dated
February 16, 1996.

We also consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration  Statement
(Form S-3 No.  33-45551) of the Minnesota Power & Light Company and in the 
related Prospectus of our  report  dated  February  9, 1995  (except  Note 14, 
as to which the date is February 23, 1995),  with respect to the  consolidated 
financial  statements of ADESA  Corporation,  which were  included in Minnesota
Power & Light  Company's Current  Report on Form 8-K dated July 12, 1995, and of
our report dated January 17,  1996  (except  Note 13, as to which the date is 
January  19,  1996),  with respect to the  consolidated  financial  statements 
of ADESA  Corporation  (not presented separately therein), included in the 
consolidated financial statements of Minnesota  Power & Light Company that are 
included in Minnesota Power & Light Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated
February 16, 1996.


Ernst & Young LLP

ERNST & YOUNG LLP
Indianapolis, Indiana
February 16, 1996


