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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000066756-07-000063.txt : 20080122
<SEC-HEADER>0000066756-07-000063.hdr.sgml : 20080121
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20071017163046
<PRIVATE-TO-PUBLIC>
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000066756-07-000063
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	CORRESP
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
FILED AS OF DATE:		20071017

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ALLETE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000066756
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTRIC & OTHER SERVICES COMBINED [4931]
		IRS NUMBER:				410418150
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		CORRESP

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		30 W SUPERIOR ST
		CITY:			DULUTH
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55802-2093
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2182795000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		30 W SUPERIOR STREET
		CITY:			DULUTH
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55802-2093

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ALLETE
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20000901

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MINNESOTA POWER INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19980603

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MINNESOTA POWER & LIGHT CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>CORRESP
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>filename1.htm
<TEXT>
<html>

  <head>
    <title>commentletter.htm</title>
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    <div>
      <div><br>&#160;</div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;">October
        17, 2007</font></div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;">VIA
        EDGAR
        TRANSMISSION AND FEDERAL EXPRESS</font></div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;">Mr.
        William H. Thompson</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;">Branch
        Chief</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;">Division
        of Corporation Finance</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;">U.S.
        Securities and Exchange Commission</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;">100
        F
        Street, N.E.</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;">Washington,
        D.C. 20549</font></div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div>
        <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">

            <tr valign="top">
              <td style="WIDTH: 27pt">
                <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;">Re:</font></div>
              </td>
              <td>
                <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;">ALLETE,
                  Inc.</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>

        </table>
      </div>
      <div>
        <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">

            <tr valign="top">
              <td style="WIDTH: 27pt">
                <div>&#160;</div>
              </td>
              <td>
                <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;">Form
                  10-K for Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2006
                  and</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>

        </table>
      </div>
      <div>
        <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">

            <tr valign="top">
              <td style="WIDTH: 27pt">
                <div>&#160;</div>
              </td>
              <td>
                <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;">Form
                  10-Q for Fiscal Quarter Ended June 30,
                  2007</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>

        </table>
      </div>
      <div>
        <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">

            <tr valign="top">
              <td style="WIDTH: 27pt">
                <div>&#160;</div>
              </td>
              <td>
                <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;">File
                  No. 1-3548</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>

        </table>
      </div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;">Dear
        Mr.
        Thompson:</font></div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;">ALLETE,
        Inc. (Company, we, us, our) has reviewed the Securities and Exchange Commission
        (SEC) staff letter of comment dated September 18, 2007, concerning the
        above-referenced filings. For the convenience of the staff of the SEC, the
        staff&#8217;s comments are included, followed by the Company&#8217;s response.</font></div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;"><strong><u>FORM
        10-K FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2006</u></strong></font></div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;"><strong><u>Item
        9A Controls and Procedures, page 52</u></strong></font></div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div>
        <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="list" width="100%">

            <tr valign="top">
              <td align="right" style="WIDTH: 27pt">
                <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;"><strong>1.&#160;&#160;</strong></font></div>
              </td>
              <td>
                <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;"><strong>Please
                  disclose whether there was any change in your internal control
                  over
                  financial reporting that occurred during the most recent fiscal
                  quarter
                  that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially
                  affect, your internal control over financial reporting. Refer to
                  Item
                  308(c) of Regulation S-K as well as paragraph 4(d) of your certifications
                  filed as exhibits.</strong></font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>

        </table>
      </div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 27pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;"><em><u>Response</u></em></font></div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 27pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;">There
        was
        no change in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred
        during
        the most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably
        likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting
        during the quarters ended December 31, 2006, March 31, 2007, and June 30,
        2007.</font></div><br>
      <div id="PGBRK" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
        <div id="FTR">
          <div id="GLFTR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left">
          </div>
        </div>
        <div id="PN" style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always">
          <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;">1</font></div>
          <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
            <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
          </div>
        </div>
        <div id="HDR">
          <div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="right">
          </div>
        </div>
      </div><br>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;"><strong><u>Financial
        Statements</u></strong></font></div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div>
        <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">

            <tr valign="top">
              <td style="WIDTH: 22.5pt">
                <div>&#160;</div>
              </td>
              <td>
                <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;"><strong><u>Consolidated
                  Statement of Income, page
                  61</u></strong></font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>

        </table>
      </div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div>
        <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="list" width="100%">

            <tr valign="top">
              <td align="right" style="WIDTH: 27pt">
                <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;"><strong>2.&#160;&#160;</strong></font></div>
              </td>
              <td>
                <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;"><strong>Please
                  tell us the circumstances that support your classification and/or
                  presentation of minority interest in income of consolidated subsidiaries
                  and equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries in a manner
                  different from Rule 5-03 of Regulation
                  S-X.</strong></font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>

        </table>
      </div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 27pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;"><em><u>Response</u></em></font></div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 27pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;"><strong><u>Minority
        Interest</u></strong></font></div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 27pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;">In
        future
        filings we will revise the presentation of our Consolidated Statement of
        Income
        to show minority interest in a manner closer aligned with Rule 5-03 of
        Regulation S-X.</font></div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 27pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;"><strong><u>Earning</u><u>s
        from Equity Method Investments</u></strong></font></div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 27pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;">Prior
        to
        2007, we did not separately present equity method investment earnings as
        called
        for by Rule 5-03 of Regulation S-X, because the earnings were immaterial
        to our
        Consolidated Statement of Income.</font></div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 27pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;">As
        disclosed in Note 6 of our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006,
        in
        May 2006 we began making a phased-in investment in American Transmission
        Company
        LLC (ATC), which was completed in February 2007 and, as of June 30, 2007,
        represented an approximate 8% ownership interest in ATC. We account for our
        investment in ATC under the equity method of accounting, pursuant to EITF
        03-16,
&#8220;Accounting for Investments in Limited Liability Companies.&#8221;&#160;Although the
        earnings were considered immaterial to our Consolidated Statement of Income,
        we
        elected to disclose ATC as a reportable segment, in accordance with Statement
        of
        Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) 131, in Note 1 of our&#160;&#160;Form 10-K
        for the year ended December 31, 2006. Earnings from ATC in 2007 are expected
        to
        be significantly higher than 2006.</font></div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 27pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;">As
        a
        limited liability company, ATC is not subject to income tax; consequently,
        we
        believe the earnings from our investment in ATC are more accurately reflected
        pre-tax as a separate line item in the &#8220;Other Income (Expense)&#8221; category.
        Additionally, we hold equity investments in other small companies. The earnings
        from these equity investments in other small companies are immaterial to
        our
        Consolidated Statement of Income and will be reported in the &#8220;Other&#8221; line item
        within the &#8220;Other Income (Expense)&#8221; category of our Consolidated Statement of
        Income. With consideration to the statement included in the footnotes to
        Rule
        5-03 of Regulation S-X, we believe the circumstances related to our investment
        in ATC justify a presentation different than that specified by Regulation
        S-X.</font></div>
      <div><br></div><br>
      <div id="PGBRK" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
        <div id="FTR">
          <div id="GLFTR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left">
          </div>
        </div>
        <div id="PN" style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always">
          <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;">2</font></div>
          <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
            <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
          </div>
        </div>
        <div id="HDR">
          <div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="right">
          </div>
        </div>
      </div><br>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 27pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;">Prospectively,
        we will revise our Consolidated Statement of Income, in relation to minority
        interest and equity method investment earnings, in future filings as
        follows:</font></div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div>
        <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">

            <tr>
              <td align="left" colspan="4" valign="bottom" width="32%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;"><strong>Operating
                  Revenue</strong></font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="8%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" colspan="2" valign="bottom" width="8%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="26%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="bottom" width="9%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="9%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="5%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="9%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="8%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
              <td colspan="2" valign="bottom" width="8%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="26%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td align="left" colspan="4" valign="bottom" width="32%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;"><strong>Operating
                  Expenses</strong></font></div>
              </td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="8%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
              <td colspan="2" valign="bottom" width="8%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="26%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="bottom" width="9%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
              <td align="left" colspan="4" valign="bottom" width="31%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">Fuel
                  and Purchased Power</font></div>
              </td>
              <td colspan="2" valign="bottom" width="8%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="26%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="bottom" width="9%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
              <td align="left" colspan="4" valign="bottom" width="31%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">Operating
                  and Maintenance</font></div>
              </td>
              <td colspan="2" valign="bottom" width="8%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="26%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="9%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" colspan="2" valign="bottom" width="14%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">Depreciation</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="9%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="8%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" colspan="2" valign="bottom" width="8%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="26%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="9%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="9%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" colspan="3" valign="bottom" width="22%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">Total
                  Operating Expenses</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" colspan="2" valign="bottom" width="8%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="26%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="bottom" width="9%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="9%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="5%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="9%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="8%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
              <td colspan="2" valign="bottom" width="8%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="26%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td align="left" colspan="7" valign="bottom" width="48%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;"><strong>Operating
                  Income from Continuing Operations</strong></font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="26%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="bottom" width="9%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="9%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="5%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="9%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
              <td colspan="2" valign="bottom" width="11%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="5%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="26%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td align="left" colspan="4" valign="bottom" width="32%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;"><strong>Other
                  Income (Expense)</strong></font></div>
              </td>
              <td colspan="2" valign="bottom" width="11%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="5%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="26%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="bottom" width="9%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
              <td align="left" colspan="3" valign="bottom" width="23%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">Interest
                  Expense</font></div>
              </td>
              <td colspan="2" valign="bottom" width="11%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="5%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="26%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="bottom" width="9%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
              <td align="left" colspan="3" valign="bottom" width="23%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">Equity
                  Earnings in ATC</font></div>
              </td>
              <td colspan="2" valign="bottom" width="11%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="5%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="26%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="9%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" colspan="2" valign="bottom" width="14%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">Other</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="9%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" colspan="2" valign="bottom" width="11%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="5%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="26%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="9%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="9%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" colspan="4" valign="bottom" width="25%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">Total
                  Other Income (Expense)</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="5%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="26%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="bottom" width="9%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="9%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="5%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="9%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
              <td colspan="2" valign="bottom" width="11%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="5%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="26%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td align="left" colspan="8" valign="bottom" width="74%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;"><strong>Income
                  from Continuing Operations Before Minority Interest and Income
                  Taxes</strong></font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td align="left" colspan="4" valign="bottom" width="32%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;"><strong>Income
                  Tax Expense</strong></font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="8%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" colspan="2" valign="bottom" width="8%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="26%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td align="left" colspan="3" valign="bottom" width="23%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;"><strong>Minority
                  Interest</strong></font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="9%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="8%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" colspan="2" valign="bottom" width="8%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="26%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td align="left" colspan="5" valign="bottom" width="40%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;"><strong>Income
                  from Continuing Operations</strong></font></div>
              </td>
              <td colspan="2" valign="bottom" width="8%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="26%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td align="left" colspan="7" valign="bottom" width="48%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;"><strong>Income
                  (Loss) from Discontinued Operations</strong></font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="26%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="bottom" width="9%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="9%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="5%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="9%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="8%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
              <td colspan="2" valign="bottom" width="8%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="26%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td align="left" colspan="3" valign="bottom" width="23%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;"><strong>Net
                  Income</strong></font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="9%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="8%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" colspan="2" valign="bottom" width="8%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="26%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
              </td>
            </tr>

        </table>
      </div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;"><strong><u>Consolidated
        Statement of Shareholders&#8217; Equity, page 63</u></strong></font></div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div>
        <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="list" width="100%">

            <tr valign="top">
              <td align="right" style="WIDTH: 27pt">
                <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;"><strong>3.&#160;&#160;</strong></font></div>
              </td>
              <td>
                <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;"><strong>Please
                  tell us how you report the difference between the fair value of
                  shares
                  released from the ESOP and the cost of the shares to the
                  ESOP.</strong></font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>

        </table>
      </div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 27pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;"><em><u>Response</u></em></font></div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 27pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;">Pursuant
        to the American Institute of Certified Public Accountant&#8217;s Statement of Position
        93-6, &#8220;Employers&#8217; Accounting for Employee Stock Ownership Plans,&#8221; we report the
        difference between fair value of shares released from the ESOP and the cost
        of
        the shares to the ESOP in additional paid-in-capital, which is included as
        a
        component of &#8220;Common Stock Without Par Value&#8221; on our Consolidated Balance Sheet.
        Supplementally, the following information related to our ESOP is disclosed
        in
        the first paragraph of footnote 17 in our Form 10-K for the year ended December
        31, 2006, included below for your reference:</font></div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;">As
        shares
        are released from collateral, the Company reports compensation expense equal
        to
        the current market price of the shares less dividends on allocated shares.
        Dividends on allocated ESOP shares are recorded as a reduction of retained
        earnings; available dividends on unallocated ESOP shares are recorded as
        a
        reduction of debt and accrued interest. ESOP compensation expense was $4.6
        million in 2006 ($5.5 million in 2005; $5.0&#160;million in 2004).</font></div>
      <div><br></div><br>
      <div id="PGBRK" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
        <div id="FTR">
          <div id="GLFTR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left">
          </div>
        </div>
        <div id="PN" style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always">
          <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;">3</font></div>
          <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
            <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
          </div>
        </div>
        <div id="HDR">
          <div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="right">
          </div>
        </div>
      </div><br>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;"><strong><u>Notes
        to Consolidated Financial Statements, page 64</u></strong></font></div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div>
        <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">

            <tr valign="top">
              <td style="WIDTH: 22.5pt">
                <div>&#160;</div>
              </td>
              <td>
                <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;"><strong><u>Note
                  2. Operations and Significant Accounting Policies, page
                  66</u></strong></font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>

        </table>
      </div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div>
        <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">

            <tr valign="top">
              <td style="WIDTH: 22.5pt">
                <div>&#160;</div>
              </td>
              <td>
                <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;"><strong><u>General</u></strong></font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>

        </table>
      </div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div>
        <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="list" width="100%">

            <tr valign="top">
              <td align="right" style="WIDTH: 27pt">
                <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;"><strong>4.&#160;&#160;</strong></font></div>
              </td>
              <td>
                <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;"><strong>Please
                  disclose the method by which amounts are removed from inventory
                  (e.g.,
                  &#8220;average,&#8221; &#8220;first-in, first-out,&#8221; &#8220;last-in, first-out&#8221;) in the inventory
                  policy on page 68.</strong></font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>

        </table>
      </div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 27pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;"><em><u>Response</u></em></font></div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 27pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;">In
        future
        filings we will include the method by which we remove amounts from inventory
        in
        our Operations and Significant Accounting Policies note. The revised disclosure
        will read as follows:</font></div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 27pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;"><strong>Inventories.</strong>
        Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Amounts removed from
        inventory are recorded on an average cost basis.</font></div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div>
        <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">

            <tr>
              <td valign="bottom" width="47%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="13%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;"><strong>September
                  30,</strong></font></div>
              </td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="13%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;"><strong>December
                  31,</strong></font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="47%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
              </td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="13%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;"><strong>2007</strong></font></div>
              </td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="13%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;"><strong>2006</strong></font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="47%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;"><strong>Inventories</strong></font></div>
              </td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="13%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="13%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="47%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;"><strong>Millions</strong></font></div>
              </td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="13%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="13%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;</font></td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="47%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">Fuel</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="13%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">$
                  -</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="13%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">$18.9</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="47%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">Materials
                  and Supplies</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="13%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">&#160;-</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="13%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">24.5</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="47%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">Total
                  Inventories</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="13%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">$
                  -</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="13%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman;">$43.4</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>

        </table>
      </div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div>
        <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">

            <tr valign="top">
              <td style="WIDTH: 22.5pt">
                <div>&#160;</div>
              </td>
              <td>
                <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;"><strong><u>Note
                  3. Property, Plant and Equipment, page
                  70</u></strong></font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>

        </table>
      </div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div>
        <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="list" width="100%">

            <tr valign="top">
              <td align="right" style="WIDTH: 27pt">
                <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;"><strong>5.&#160;&#160;</strong></font></div>
              </td>
              <td>
                <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;"><strong>Please
                  explain to us why you do not have sufficient information to reasonably
                  estimate settlement dates or range of potential settlement dates
                  of
                  conditional asset retirement obligations for treated wood poles
                  and
                  remaining polychlorinated biphenyl and asbestos-containing assets.
                  Refer
                  to paragraph 5b of FIN 47.</strong></font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>

        </table>
      </div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 27pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;"><em><u>Response</u></em></font></div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 27pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;">Conditional
        asset retirement obligations have been identified for treated wood poles
        and
        remaining polychlorinated biphenyl and asbestos-containing assets; however,
        we
        have not recognized asset retirement obligations related to treated wood
        poles
        and polychlorinated biphenyl and certain asbestos-containing assets (exclusive
        of asbestos removal activities in our steam generating plants, which have
        been
        included in our recorded asset retirement obligation liability) because we
        have
        concluded that the potential liability is immaterial to our consolidated
        financial statements. Additionally, the settlement dates of certain obligations
        are indeterminate as we are unable to determine when our normal operating
        activities associated with these assets will cease.</font></div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 27pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;">Upon
        removal, approximately 90 percent of our treated wood poles are given to
        unrelated third parties, with the remaining 10 percent disposed of in lined
        landfills in accordance with Minnesota Pollution Control Agency regulations.
        When transferred, the unrelated third party is required to sign a bill-of-sale
        acknowledging that the individual is receiving treated wood poles that may
        contain toxic and/or hazardous chemicals. Title and liability is transferred
        from us to the third party at the time the bill-of-sale is signed. The asset
        retirement obligation related to the remaining 10 percent of the treated
        wood
        poles is considered immaterial to our consolidated financial statements.
        We
        currently have a routine maintenance program that keeps our transmission
        and
        distribution assets in good operating condition and will keep them operable
        into
        the foreseeable future. In response to Federal regulations, beginning in
        1979,
        we removed substantially all of our polychlorinated biphenyl contaminated
        electrical assets. The remaining number of polychlorinated biphenyl contaminated
        items is not significant based on current field experience and will continue
        to
        diminish over time since polychlorinated biphenyl equipment has not been
        installed since the late 1970s. The potential liability related to these
        remaining assets is considered immaterial to our consolidated financial
        statements. We will continue to retire the assets as needed or as we become
        aware of them. According to Environmental Protection Agency regulations,
        these
        assets are assumed to be non-polychlorinated biphenyl until removed from
        service
        or identified. We have no current or future plans to cease operations with
        the
        above-described assets and we are not aware of any factors at this time which
        would require the retirement of any of these assets.</font></div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 27pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;">The
        majority of our asbestos-containing assets are located within our steam
        generating facilities, with minor undetermined amounts of asbestos located
        at
        various other facilities. We have established an asset retirement obligation
        liability for the decommissioning of our steam generating facilities, which
        includes the expected cost of asbestos removal. For the remaining amounts,
        we do
        not currently have a legal obligation to remove asbestos under an established
        timeframe. We consider any potential liability related to our remaining
        asbestos-containing assets to be immaterial to our consolidated financial
        statements. As the assets are retired, we will address the asbestos and any
        potential liability associated therewith.</font></div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 27pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;">Historically,
        with respect to our utility businesses, recovery of asset retirement costs
        through our rates charged to customers has been allowed by our regulators.
        Accordingly, we record regulatory assets and liabilities, pursuant to SFAS
        71,
        for the difference between asset retirement costs currently recovered in
        rates
        and asset retirement obligations recorded under SFAS 143. The recording of
        the
        obligation has no impact on our Consolidated Statement of Income.</font></div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 27pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;">Because
        the potential liability related to the above-described items is immaterial
        to
        our consolidated financial statements, we will revise the following disclosures
        related to asset retirement obligations, previously included in Note 3 of
        our
        Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, in future applicable filings,
        as
        follows:</font></div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt;">Conditional
        asset retirement
        obligations have been identified for treated wood poles and remaining
        polychlorinated biphenyl</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt;">
        and asbestos-containing assets; h</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt;">owever, </font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt;">removal
        costs have not been recognized
        because they are considered immaterial to our consolidated financial
        statements</font>.</font></div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div>
        <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">

            <tr valign="top">
              <td style="WIDTH: 22.5pt">
                <div>&#160;</div>
              </td>
              <td>
                <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;"><strong><u>Exhibits
                  31(a) and 31(b)</u></strong></font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>

        </table>
      </div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div>
        <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="list" width="100%">

            <tr valign="top">
              <td align="right" style="WIDTH: 27pt">
                <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;"><strong>6.&#160;&#160;</strong></font></div>
              </td>
              <td>
                <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;"><strong>Please
                  remove the titles of your chief executive officer and chief financial
                  officer from the introductory paragraphs of the certifications
                  to conform
                  to the format provided in Item 601(b)(31) of Regulation S-K. Please
                  confirm to us that the inclusion of the titles of your chief executive
                  officer and chief financial officer was not intended to limit the
                  capacity
                  in which such individual provided the
                  certifications.</strong></font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>

        </table>
      </div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 27pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;"><em><u>Response</u></em></font></div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 27pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;">In
        future
        filings we will remove the titles of our chief executive officer and chief
        financial officer from the introductory paragraphs of the certifications
        provided to comply with Item 601(b)(31) of Regulation S-K. &#160;We confirm to
        the staff that the inclusion of these titles was not intended to limit the
        capacity in which such individuals provided the certifications.</font></div><br>
      <div id="PGBRK" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
        <div id="FTR">
          <div id="GLFTR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left">
          </div>
        </div>
        <div id="PN" style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always">
          <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;">4</font></div>
          <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
            <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
          </div>
        </div>
        <div id="HDR">
          <div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="right">
          </div>
        </div>
      </div><br>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;"><strong><u>Form
        10-Q for Fiscal Quarter Ended June 30, 2007</u></strong></font></div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div>
        <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="list" width="100%">

            <tr valign="top">
              <td align="right" style="WIDTH: 27pt">
                <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;"><strong>7.&#160;&#160;</strong></font></div>
              </td>
              <td>
                <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;"><strong>Please
                  address the comments above in future filings as
                  applicable.</strong></font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>

        </table>
      </div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 27pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;"><em><u>Response</u></em></font></div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 27pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;">In
        future
        filings we will revise our disclosures as described herein.</font></div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;"><strong><u>Item
        4. Controls and Procedures, page 29</u></strong></font></div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div>
        <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="list" width="100%">

            <tr valign="top">
              <td align="right" style="WIDTH: 27pt">
                <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;"><strong>8.&#160;&#160;</strong></font></div>
              </td>
              <td>
                <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;"><strong>You
                  state that you maintain a system of controls and procedures designed
                  to
                  provide reasonable assurance as to the reliability of the financial
                  statements and other disclosures included in the report, as well
                  as to
                  safeguard assets from unauthorized use or disposition. Please revise
                  to
                  state, if true, that your disclosure controls and procedures are
                  designed
                  to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports
                  that
                  you file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed,
                  summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the
                  Commission&#8217;s rules and forms, and is accumulated and communicated to
                  management, including your principal executive and principal financial
                  officer, or persons performing similar functions, to allow timely
                  decisions regarding required disclosure. Please refer to the definition
                  of
                  disclosure controls and procedures in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(c).
                  Also,
                  if you include the &#8220;reasonable assurance&#8221; language in the definition of
                  disclosure controls and procedures, you should state, if true,
                  that your
                  chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that
                  your
                  disclosure controls and procedures are effective at the reasonable
                  assurance level.</strong></font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>

        </table>
      </div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 27pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;"><em><u>Response</u></em></font></div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 27pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;">We
        confirm that our principal executive officer and principal financial officer
        concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of
        December 31, 2006, March 31, 2007 and June 30, 2007 to ensure that information
        required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Exchange
        Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods
        specified in the SEC&#8217;s rules and forms and such information is accumulated and
        communicated to our management, including our principal executive and principal
        financial officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
        We
        will include the information in our discussion of disclosure controls and
        procedures in future filings.</font></div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 27pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;">The
        following is the disclosure that the Company plans to include in our third
        quarter 2007 Form 10-Q and in future filings:</font></div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;">As
        of
        [the end of the period covered by this Form 10-Q/K], evaluations were performed,
        under the supervision and with the participation of management, including
        our
        principal executive officer and principal financial officer, of the
        effectiveness of the design and operation of ALLETE&#8217;s disclosure controls and
        procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities
        Exchange Act of 1934 (&#8220;Exchange Act&#8221;)).&#160; Based upon those evaluations, our
        principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded
        that
        such disclosure controls and procedures are effective to provide assurance
        that
        information required to be disclosed in ALLETE&#8217;s reports filed or submitted
        under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within
        the time periods specified in the SEC&#8217;s rules and forms and such information is
        accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal
        executive and principal financial officer, to allow timely decisions regarding
        required disclosure.</font></div>
      <div><br></div><br>
      <div id="PGBRK" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
        <div id="FTR">
          <div id="GLFTR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left">
          </div>
        </div>
        <div id="PN" style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always">
          <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;">5</font></div>
          <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
            <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
          </div>
        </div>
        <div id="HDR">
          <div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="right">
          </div>
        </div>
      </div><br>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;">Additionally,
        we acknowledge that:</font></div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div>
        <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="list" width="100%">

            <tr valign="top">
              <td align="right" style="WIDTH: 54pt">
                <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt;" face="Symbol, serif">&#183;&#160;&#160;</font></div>
              </td>
              <td>
                <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;">We
                  are responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure
                  in our
                  filings;</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>

        </table>
      </div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div>
        <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="list" width="100%">

            <tr valign="top">
              <td align="right" style="WIDTH: 54pt">
                <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt;" face="Symbol, serif">&#183;&#160;&#160;</font></div>
              </td>
              <td>
                <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;">SEC
                  comments or changes to disclosure in response to SEC staff comments
                  do not
                  foreclose the SEC from taking any action with respect to our filings;
                  and</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>

        </table>
      </div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div>
        <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="list" width="100%">

            <tr valign="top">
              <td align="right" style="WIDTH: 54pt">
                <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt;" face="Symbol, serif">&#183;&#160;&#160;</font></div>
              </td>
              <td>
                <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;">We
                  may not assert SEC staff comments as a defense in any proceeding
                  initiated
                  by the SEC or any person under the federal securities laws of the
                  United
                  States.</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>

        </table>
      </div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;">If
        you
        have any further questions or would like to discuss our responses, please
        contact me at (218) 723-3975, or Steve DeVinck, Controller, at (218)
        723-3920.</font></div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;">Sincerely,</font></div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;">Mark
        A.
        Schober</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;">Senior
        Vice President and Chief Financial Officer</font></div>
      <div><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;">c&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Mr.
        Donald Shippar</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;"><font id="TAB1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 13.5pt;"></font>Ta
        Tanisha Meadows</font></div><br>
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