
<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 DECEMBER 31, 1995, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1995
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,123,659
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    324,992
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         251,965
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       113,668
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 133,341
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,947,625
<COMMON>                                       377,684
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            276,241
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 584,072
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                     48,547
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           639,548
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              96,218
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    9,743
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 499,644
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,947,625
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      672,917
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             1,155
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     566,060
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     614,101
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         63,012
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               7,044
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 112,746
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        48,041
<NET-INCOME>                                    64,705
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      3,200
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   61,505
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        57,910
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       42,602
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         123,954
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.16
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.16
        

</TABLE>
