<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99
<SEQUENCE>14
<FILENAME>exhibit99b.txt
<DESCRIPTION>EX-99(B) CERTIFICAITON BY CFO-JAMES K. VIZANKO
<TEXT>
<PAGE>



                                                                   EXHIBIT 99(b)


                        CERTIFICATION OF ANNUAL REPORT

I, James K. Vizanko,  Vice President,  Chief Financial  Officer and Treasurer of
ALLETE,  Inc.  (Company),  certify pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, that:

1.   The Annual Report on Form 10-K of  the Company for the  year ended December
     31, 2002 (Report) fully complies with the  requirements of Section 13(a) of
     the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m or 78o(d)); and

2.   The  information contained  in the Report fairly  presents, in all material
     respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Dated:  February 14, 2003



                                                 James Vizanko
                                                 -------------------------------

                                                 James K. Vizanko
                                                 Vice President, Chief Financial
                                                 Officer and Treasurer



</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
