ALE Allete Inc

ALLETE, Inc. (NYSE:ALE) today reported second quarter 2012 earnings of 39 cents per share on net income of $14.4 million and operating revenue of $216.4 million, compared to 48 cents on net income of $17.0 million and operating revenue of $219.9 million in 2011.

Last year's results included a $2.9 million, or 8 cents per share, income tax benefit. The non-recurring benefit resulted from the Minnesota Public Utility Commission's approval to defer the retail portion of a 2010 charge related to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

ALLETE's Regulated Operations segment, which includes Minnesota Power, Superior Water, Light & Power and the company's investment in the American Transmission Company, recorded net income of $14.4 million. The net income of $18.3 million recorded in 2011 included the $2.9 million benefit described above.

Second quarter 2012 results included higher current cost recovery rider revenue, higher costs under the Square Butte power purchase agreement and increased depreciation and interest expense compared to the year-ago period. Total electric sales to Minnesota Power's retail and municipal customers rose 1.9 percent compared to a year ago; among industrial customers the increase was 3.4 percent.

“Industrial demand for power remains strong,” said ALLETE Chairman, President and CEO Al Hodnik. “Based on the demand nominations received this week, we expect these customers to run at near full-capacity levels for the remainder of the year.”

ALLETE's Investments and Other segment broke even in the second quarter, an improvement over the $1.3 million net loss recorded in the second quarter of 2011. The difference was due primarily to lower interest and state income tax expenses.

“Our year-to-date financial results are right where we expected them to be, and we look forward to a strong second half of 2012,” Hodnik said. “The company's full year earnings guidance remains unchanged, in an expected range of between $2.45 and $2.65 per share.” He said 2012 guidance assumes continued strong industrial demand for electricity, increasing current cost recovery rider revenue, and an approximate increase of five percent year-over-year in operating and maintenance expense.

ALLETE will host a conference call and webcast at 10 a.m. Eastern time today to discuss details of its quarterly financial performance. Interested parties may listen live by calling (877) 303-5852, or by accessing the webcast at www.allete.com. A replay of the call will be available through Aug. 4, 2012 by calling (855) 859-2056, pass code 96261080.

ALLETE, Inc. is an energy company headquartered in Duluth, Minnesota. ALLETE's energy businesses include Minnesota Power, Superior Water, Light & Power Co., BNI Coal, and ALLETE Clean Energy. More information about the company is available at www.allete.com.

The statements contained in this release and statements that ALLETE may make orally in connection with this release that are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and investors are directed to the risks discussed in documents filed by ALLETE with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

ALLETE’s press releases and other communications may include certain non-Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) financial measures. A “non-GAAP financial measure” is defined as a numerical measure of a company’s financial performance, financial position or cash flows that excludes (or includes) amounts that are included in (or excluded from) the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP in the company’s financial statements.

Non-GAAP financial measures utilized by the Company include presentations of earnings (loss) per share. ALLETE’s management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information to investors by removing the effect of variances in GAAP reported results of operations that are not indicative of changes in the fundamental earnings power of the Company’s operations. Management believes that the presentation of the non-GAAP financial measures is appropriate and enables investors and analysts to more accurately compare the company’s ongoing financial performance over the periods presented.

    ALLETE, Inc. Consolidated Statement of Income

Millions Except Per Share Amounts – Unaudited

      Quarter Ended     Six Months Ended June 30, June 30,       2012     2011     2012     2011 Operating Revenue     $ 216.4       $ 219.9       $ 456.4       $ 462.1           Operating Expenses Fuel and Purchased Power 72.1 76.0 149.2 155.0 Operating and Maintenance 96.2 95.7 196.1 185.8 Depreciation       24.8         22.1         49.4         44.4   Total Operating Expenses 193.1 193.8 394.7 385.2   Operating Income       23.3         26.1         61.7         76.9     Other Income (Expense) Interest Expense (10.1 ) (11.0 ) (21.1 ) (21.7 ) Equity Earnings in ATC 4.8 4.6 9.4 9.0 Other       1.2         1.0         1.9         1.8   Total Other Expense       (4.1 )       (5.4 )       (9.8 )       (10.9 )   Income Before Non-Controlling Interest and Income Taxes 19.2 20.7 51.9 66.0 Income Tax Expense       4.8         3.8         13.1         12.0   Net Income       14.4         16.9         38.8         54.0   Less: Non-Controlling Interest in Subsidiaries       —         (0.1 )       —         (0.2 ) Net Income Attributable to ALLETE     $ 14.4       $ 17.0       $ 38.8       $ 54.2     Average Shares of Common Stock Basic 37.3 35.0 37.0 34.8 Diluted       37.4         35.1         37.1         34.9     Basic Earnings Per Share of Common Stock $ 0.39 $ 0.49 $ 1.05 $ 1.56 Diluted Earnings Per Share of Common Stock $ 0.39 $ 0.48 $ 1.05 $ 1.55   Dividends Per Share of Common Stock     $ 0.46       $ 0.445       $ 0.92       $ 0.89       Consolidated Balance Sheet

Millions – Unaudited

      June 30,     Dec. 31,           June 30,     Dec. 31,       2012     2011             2012     2011 Assets Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity Cash and Short-Term Investments $ 8.6 $ 101.1 Current Liabilities $ 232.4 $ 163.1 Other Current Assets 161.5 175.9 Long-Term Debt 808.4 857.9 Property, Plant and Equipment 2,177.5 1,982.7 Deferred Income Taxes 388.0 373.6 Regulatory Assets 336.9 345.9 Regulatory Liabilities 49.3 43.5 Defined Benefit Pension & Other Investment in ATC 102.6 98.9 Postretirement Benefit Plans 253.8 253.5 Investments 136.0 132.3 Other Liabilities 110.6 105.1 Other       39.1       39.2       Shareholders’ Equity       1,119.7       1,079.3 Total Assets     $ 2,962.2     $ 2,876.0       Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity     $ 2,962.2     $ 2,876.0             Quarter Ended Six Months Ended ALLETE, Inc. June 30, June 30, Income (Loss)       2012     2011     2012     2011 Millions         Regulated Operations $ 14.4 $ 18.3 $ 38.8 $ 56.7 Investments and Other         —       (1.3 )       —       (2.5 ) Net Income Attributable to ALLETE       $ 14.4     $ 17.0       $ 38.8     $ 54.2   Diluted Earnings Per Share       $ 0.39     $ 0.48       $ 1.05     $ 1.55     Statistical Data                           Corporate Common Stock High $ 41.99 $ 41.43 $ 42.49 $ 41.43 Low $ 38.03 $ 37.87 $ 38.03 $ 36.33 Close $ 41.80 $ 41.04 $ 41.80 $ 41.04 Book Value $ 29.24 $ 28.23 $ 29.24 $ 28.23   Kilowatt-hours Sold                           Millions Regulated Utility Retail and Municipals Residential 226 238 552 600 Commercial 326 328 690 704 Municipals 234 230 498 499 Industrial         1,842       1,782         3,710       3,620   Total Retail and Municipal 2,628 2,578 5,450 5,423 Other Power Suppliers         492       614         1,009       1,154   Total Regulated Utility 3,120 3,192 6,459 6,577 Non-regulated Energy Operations         25       25         55       51   Total Kilowatt-hours Sold         3,145       3,217         6,514       6,628     Regulated Utility Revenue                           Millions Regulated Utility Revenue Retail and Municipals Residential $ 20.5 $ 23.6 $ 49.9 $ 58.0 Commercial 24.7 26.2 51.9 55.5 Municipals 13.9 15.4 31.3 32.6 Industrial         93.5       96.3         191.3       194.1   Total Retail and Municipals 152.6 161.5 324.4 340.2 Other Power Suppliers 17.7 20.7 36.4 40.3 Other         26.7       19.6         54.8       44.3   Total Regulated Utility Revenue       $ 197.0     $ 201.8       $ 415.6     $ 424.8