ALLETE, Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2018 Earnings; Reaffirms Earnings Guidance

ALLETE, Inc. ALE today reported second quarter 2018 earnings of 61 cents per share on net income of $31.3 million and operating revenue of $344.1 million. Last year's results were 72 cents per share on net income of $36.9 million and operating revenue of $353.3 million.

"Financial results from ALLETE's businesses reflect strong power demand from taconite customers, impacts from Minnesota Power's recent rate case and notable progress from ALLETE Clean Energy on its wind turbine refurbishment strategy," said ALLETE Chairman, President and CEO Al Hodnik. "Setting aside year over year timing differentials, ALLETE posted a solid quarter and we remain confident in our full year 2018 earnings guidance range of $3.20 to $3.50 per share. We are well positioned for growth as our diverse family of businesses captures value in a growing domestic economy, and our nation focuses on sustainable energy and water solutions."

ALLETE's Regulated Operations segment, which includes Minnesota Power, Superior Water, Light and Power, and the Company's investment in the American Transmission Co. (ATC), recorded net income of $26.0 million for the second quarter of 2018, a decrease of $6.4 million from 2017. Earnings decreased primarily due to lower net income at Minnesota Power resulting from the timing of reserves for an interim rate refund of $5.6 million after-tax, the timing of approval for financial incentives under the Minnesota conservation improvement program of $3.9 million after-tax, and lower transmission revenue. These decreases were partially offset by higher sales to residential, commercial and municipal customers due to more favorable weather conditions, and lower operating and maintenance expense.

ALLETE's Energy Infrastructure and Related Services businesses, which include ALLETE Clean Energy and U.S. Water Services, recorded net income of $6.8 million and $0.2 million for the second quarter of 2018, respectively. Earnings at ALLETE Clean Energy increased $3.0 million from 2017. Net income in 2018 included $3.9 million after-tax of additional production tax credits generated as ALLETE Clean Energy executes on its refurbishment strategy and a lower federal income tax rate, partially offset by higher operating and maintenance expenses and lower revenue resulting from lower wind resources compared to the same period in 2017. Earnings from U.S. Water Services reflect higher operating expenses, partially offset by higher revenue primarily from the September 2017 acquisition of Tonka Water. Results this period were also negatively impacted by the timing of capital project sales.

ALLETE will host a conference call and webcast at 10 a.m. Eastern Time this morning to discuss details of its 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 August 6, 2018 by calling (855) 859-2056, pass code 9699879. The webcast will be accessible for one year at www.allete.com.

ALLETE is an energy company headquartered in Duluth, Minn. In addition to its electric utilities, Minnesota Power and Superior Water, Light and Power of Wisconsin, ALLETE owns ALLETE Clean Energy, based in Duluth, BNI Energy in Bismarck, N.D., U.S. Water Services headquartered in St. Michael, Minn., and has an eight percent equity interest in the American Transmission Co. More information about ALLETE is available at www.allete.com. ALE-CORP

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.

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