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                                                                  Exhibit 23(b)
LOGO
ERNST & YOUNG LLP   One Indiana Square                  Phone:     317 681 7000
                    Suite 3400                          Fax:       317 681 7216
                    Indianapolis, Indiana 46204-2094


                         Consent of Independent Auditors


We  consent to the  reference  to our firm under the  caption  "Experts"  in the
Registration Statement (Form S-3 No. 333-__) and related Prospectus of Minnesota
Power & Light Company for the registration of 473,006 shares of its common stock
and to the  incorporation  by reference  therein 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 for the six months
ended December 31, 1995 (not presented separately therein) which are included in
the  consolidated  financial  statements of Minnesota Power & Light Company that
are  incorporated  by  reference  in its Annual  Report (Form 10-K) for the year
ended December 31, 1995, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.



                                         Ernst & Young LLP

October 3, 1996






       Ernst & Young LLP is a member of Ernst & Young International, Ltd.


