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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000066756-97-000034.txt : 19970329
<SEC-HEADER>0000066756-97-000034.hdr.sgml : 19970329
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000066756-97-000034
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	10-K405
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		17
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	19961231
FILED AS OF DATE:		19970328
SROS:			AMEX
SROS:			NYSE

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MINNESOTA POWER & LIGHT CO
		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:		10-K405
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-03548
		FILM NUMBER:		97567570

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		30 W SUPERIOR ST
		CITY:			DULUTH
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55802
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2187222641

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		30 W SUPERIOR STREET
		CITY:			DULUTH
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55802
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>10-K405
<SEQUENCE>1
<TEXT>

<PAGE>
================================================================================

                       Securities and Exchange Commission
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 10-K
(Mark One)
/X/ Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 1996

/ / Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 For the transition period from ________________ to _______________

Commission File No. 1-3548

                         Minnesota Power & Light Company
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

              Minnesota                                     41-0418150
     (State or other jurisdiction                        (I.R.S. Employer
   of incorporation or organization)                    Identification No.)

      30 West Superior Street
         Duluth, Minnesota                                     55802
(Address of principal executive offices)                    (Zip Code)

        Registrant's telephone number, including area code (218) 722-2641

           Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

                                                         Name of Each Stock
              Title of Each Class                   Exchange on Which Registered
              -------------------                   ----------------------------
          Common Stock, without par value              New York Stock Exchange
       
     5% Cumulative Preferred Stock, par value
                   $100 per share                      American Stock Exchange
     
     8.05% Cumulative Quarterly Income Preferred
    Securities of MP&L Capital I, a subsidiary of
          Minnesota Power & Light Company              New York Stock Exchange

           Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
                       Preferred Stock, without par value

     Indicate  by check mark  whether the  registrant  (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of
1934  during  the  preceding  12 months  (or for such  shorter  period  that the
registrant was required to file such reports),  and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days.

         Yes      /X/      No       / /

     Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent  filers pursuant to Item
405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the
best of registrant's  knowledge,  in definitive proxy or information  statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K. /X/

     The aggregate  market value of voting stock held by  nonaffiliates on March
3, 1997, was $969,116,933.

     As of March 3, 1997,  there were  32,934,958  shares of  Minnesota  Power &
Light Company Common Stock, without par value, outstanding.

                       DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the Minnesota Power 1996 Annual Report are incorporated by reference
in Part II,  Items 7 and 8, and  portions  of the Proxy  Statement  for the 1997
Annual Meeting of Shareholders are incorporated by reference in Part III.

================================================================================

<PAGE>

                                      Index

                                                                          Page
PART I
Item 1.  Business                                                           1
         Electric Operations                                                2
              Electric Sales                                                3
              Purchased Power                                               5
              Capacity Sales                                                5
              Fuel                                                          6
              Regulatory Issues                                             6
              Capital Expenditure Program                                   8
              Competition                                                   8
              Franchises                                                    9
              Environmental Matters                                        10
         Water Services                                                    13
              Regulatory Issues                                            13
              Capital Expenditure Program                                  15
              Competition                                                  15
              Franchises                                                   15
              Environmental Matters                                        15
         Automotive Services                                               16
              Capital Expenditure Program                                  16
              Competition                                                  17
              Environmental Matters                                        17
         Investments                                                       18
              Environmental Matters                                        18
         Executive Officers of the Registrant                              19
Item 2.  Properties                                                        21
Item 3.  Legal Proceedings                                                 23
Item 4.  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders               23

PART II
Item 5.  Market for the Registrant's Common Equity and Related
           Stockholder Matters                                             24
Item 6.  Selected Financial Data                                           25
Item 7.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
         Results of Operations                                             25
Item 8.  Financial Statements and Supplementary Data                       25
Item 9.  Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and
         Financial Disclosure                                              25

PART III
Item 10.  Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant               26
Item 11.  Executive Compensation                                           26
Item 12.  Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management   26
Item 13.  Certain Relationships and Related Transactions                   26

PART IV
Item 14.  Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K  27

SIGNATURES                                                                 34


<PAGE>

                                   Definitions

          The following abbreviations or acronyms are used in the text.

  Abbreviation or Acronyms                           Term
- --------------------------            ----------------------------------------
ADESA                                 ADESA Corporation
AFC                                   Automotive Finance Corporation
BNI Coal                              BNI Coal, Ltd.
Boise                                 Boise Cascade Corp.
Boswell                               Boswell Energy Center
Capital Re                            Capital Re Corporation
CIP                                   Conservation Improvement Program
CPI                                   Consolidated Papers, Inc.
Company                               Minnesota Power & Light Company and its
                                        Subsidiaries
DOJ                                   United States Department of Justice
Duluth                                City of Duluth, Minnesota
Energy Policy Act                     National Energy Policy Act of 1992
EPA                                   Environmental Protection Agency
FERC                                  Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
FDEP                                  Florida Department of Environmental
                                        Protection
Florida Water                         Florida Water Services Corporation
FPSC                                  Florida Public Service Commission
Heater                                Heater Utilities, Inc.
Hibbard                               M.L. Hibbard Station
ISI                                   Instrumentation Services, Inc.
Laskin                                Laskin Energy Center
Lehigh                                Lehigh Acquisition Corporation
MAPP                                  Mid-Continent Area Power Pool
MBtu                                  Million British thermal units
Minnesota Power                       Minnesota Power & Light Company and its
                                        Subsidiaries
Minnkota Power                        Minnkota Power Cooperative, Inc.
MPCA                                  Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
MPUC                                  Minnesota Public Utilities Commission
MW                                    Megawatt(s)
MWh                                   Megawatthour
NCUC                                  North Carolina Utilities Commission
Note_                                 Note __  to the consolidated financial
                                        statements in the Minnesota Power 1996
                                        Annual Report
NPDES                                 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
                                        System
PSCW                                  Public Service Commission of Wisconsin
Rainy River                           Rainy River Energy Corporation
Reach All                             Reach All Partnership
SCPSC                                 South Carolina Public Service Commission
Seabrook                              Heater of Seabrook, Inc.
Square Butte                          Square Butte Electric Cooperative
SWL&P                                 Superior Water, Light and Power Company
Synertec                              Synertec, Incorporated
WPPI                                  Wisconsin Public Power, Inc. SYSTEM

<PAGE>

                              SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT
                                    UNDER THE
                PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995


         In connection with the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities
Litigation  Reform  Act of 1995  (Reform  Act),  the  Company  is hereby  filing
cautionary  statements  identifying  important  factors  that  could  cause  the
Company's   actual  results  to  differ   materially  from  those  projected  in
forward-looking  statements  (as such term is defined in the Reform Act) made by
or  on  behalf  of  the  Company  in  this  annual   report  on  Form  10-K,  in
presentations,  in response to  questions  or  otherwise.  Any  statements  that
express, or involve discussions as to expectations,  beliefs, plans, objectives,
assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always,  through the
use  of  words  or  phrases  such  as  "anticipates",   "estimates",  "expects",
"intends",   "plans",  "predicts",   "projects",  "will  likely  result",  "will
continue",  or similar  expressions)  are not statements of historical facts and
may be forward-looking.

         Forward-looking   statements   involve  estimates,   assumptions,   and
uncertainties  and are  qualified  in their  entirety by  reference  to, and are
accompanied by, the following important factors, which are difficult to predict,
contain  uncertainties,  are beyond the  control  of the  Company  and may cause
actual  results to differ  materially  from those  contained in  forward-looking
statements:   (i)  prevailing  governmental  policies  and  regulatory  actions,
including  those of the FERC,  the MPUC,  the FPSC,  the NCUC, the SCPSC and the
PSCW,  with respect to allowed  rates of return,  industry  and rate  structure,
acquisition and disposal of assets and facilities,  operation,  and construction
of plant  facilities,  recovery of purchased  power,  and present or prospective
wholesale and retail  competition  (including but not limited to retail wheeling
and  transmission   costs);  (ii)  economic  and  geographic  factors  including
political and economic risks; (iii) changes in and compliance with environmental
and safety laws and policies;  (iv) weather  conditions;  (v) population  growth
rates and  demographic  patterns;  (vi)  competition  for retail  and  wholesale
customers;  (vii)  pricing and  transportation  of  commodities;  (viii)  market
demand,  including  structural  market  changes;  (ix)  changes  in tax rates or
policies  or  in  rates  of  inflation;  (x)  changes  in  project  costs;  (xi)
unanticipated  changes in  operating  expenses and capital  expenditures;  (xii)
capital  market  conditions;  (xiii)  competition  for  new  energy  development
opportunities;  and (xiv) legal and administrative proceedings (whether civil or
criminal) and settlements  that influence the business and  profitability of the
Company.

         Any forward-looking statements speaks only as of the date on which such
statement  is made,  and the  Company  undertakes  no  obligation  to update any
forward-looking  statement to reflect events or circumstances  after the date on
which such  statement  is made or to reflect  the  occurrence  of  unanticipated
events.  New  factors  emerge  from  time to  time  and it is not  possible  for
management to predict all of such  factors,  nor can it assess the impact of any
such factor on the business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of
factors,  may cause  results to differ  materially  from those  contained in any
forward-looking statement.

<PAGE>

                                     PART I

Item 1.  Business.

         Minnesota Power is an operating public utility  incorporated  under the
laws of the State of Minnesota in 1906. Its principal  executive office is at 30
West Superior  Street,  Duluth,  Minnesota,  55802;  and its telephone number is
(218) 722-2641.  Minnesota Power has operations in four business  segments:  (1)
electric operations,  which include electric and gas services,  and coal mining;
(2) water services,  which include water and wastewater services; (3) automotive
services,  which  include  auctions,  a finance  company  and an auto  transport
company; and (4) investments, which include a securities portfolio, a 21 percent
equity investment in a financial  guaranty  reinsurance  company and real estate
operations.  As of December  31,  1996,  the Company  and its  subsidiaries  had
approximately 6,500 employees.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             Year Ended December 31,
Summary of Earnings Per Share <F1>                               1996               1995                1994
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                             <C>                 <C>                 <C>
Consolidated Earnings Per Share
     Continuing Operations                                      $2.28               $2.06               $1.99
     Discontinued Operations <F2>                                   -                 .10                 .07
                                                                -----               -----               -----   
       Total                                                    $2.28               $2.16               $2.06
                                                                =====               =====               =====

Percentage of Earnings by Business Segment
     Continuing Operations
       Electric Operations                                         58%                 63%                 66%
       Water Services                                               8                  (2)                 23
       Automotive Services                                          6                   0                   -
       Investments                                                 57                  67                  40
       Corporate Charges and Other <F3>                           (29)                (33)                (33)
     Discontinued Operations <F2>                                   -                   5                   4
                                                                  ---                 ---                 ---
                                                                  100%                100%                100%
                                                                  ===                 ===                 ===
- -------------------------
<FN>
<F1>   Financial statement information may not be comparable between periods due
       to the purchase of 80 percent of ADESA on July 1, 1995, another 3 percent
       on January 3, 1996, and the remaining 17 percent on August 21, 1996.

<F2>   On June 30,  1995,  the Company  sold the  interest in its paper and pulp
       business  to CPI for $118  million  in cash,  plus  CPI's  assumption  of
       certain debt and lease  obligations.  The Company is still committed to a
       maximum  guarantee of $95 million to ensure a portion of a $33.4  million
       annual lease obligation for paper mill equipment under an operating lease
       extending  to 2012.  CPI has  agreed to  indemnify  the  Company  for any
       payments  the  Company may make as a result of the  Company's  obligation
       relating to this operating lease.

<F3>   Includes  the  financial  results  for  Reach All and  general  corporate
       expenses not allocable to a specific business segment.
</FN>
</TABLE>


       Since 1983 Minnesota  Power has been  diversifying to reduce its reliance
on electricity  sales to Minnesota's  taconite  industry and to gain  additional
earnings  growth   potential.   Acquisitions   have  been  a  primary  means  of
diversification.  During 1996 the Company  purchased  the  remaining  20 percent
minority interest in ADESA, the third largest automobile auction business in the
United  States,   making  ADESA  a  wholly  owned  subsidiary  of  the  Company.
Additionally,  the Company  acquired five auction  businesses to complement  and
expand its automotive  services segment. In April 1996 the Company acquired Palm
Coast real estate in Florida adding significantly to its inventory of commercial
and  residential  properties.  Water  services  expanded  during  1996  with the
acquisition  of ISI, a  predictive  maintenance  business  that serves the water
industry.  During 1997 the Company  plans to  complete  the  purchase of a small
water  utility in North  Carolina and continues to consider  other  acquisitions
that would  complement  its  businesses,  expand its services and  contribute to
earnings growth.

       For a detailed  discussion  of  results of  operations  and  trends,  see
Management's  Discussion  and  Analysis of  Financial  Condition  and Results of
Operations  in the  Minnesota  Power 1996 Annual  Report.  For business  segment
information, see Note 1.

                                      -1-

<PAGE>

       The  information  contained or  incorporated  by reference in this annual
report on Form 10-K reflects a categorization of the Company's business which is
different  from the  categorization  used in the annual  report on Form 10-K for
1995.  Financial  data from prior  years has been  reclassified  in this  annual
report on Form 10-K to present comparable data in all periods.

                               Electric Operations

       Electric   operations   generate,   transmit,   distribute   and   market
electricity.  In addition, electric operations include coal mining, engineering,
construction and maintenance services,  and economic development projects within
the Company's service area.

       -  Minnesota Power provides  electricity in a 26,000 square mile electric
          service  territory located in northeastern  Minnesota.  As of December
          31, 1996,  Minnesota Power was supplying  retail  electric  service to
          121,000 customers in 153 cities,  towns and communities,  and outlying
          rural areas.  The largest  city served is Duluth with a population  of
          85,000 based on the 1990 census. Wholesale electric service for resale
          is supplied to 13 municipal  distribution systems, one private utility
          and SWL&P.

          MPEX is an expansion of the Company's  inter-utility  marketing  group
          which has been a buyer and seller of capacity  and energy for 25 years
          in the wholesale  power market.  It was formally  established in early
          1996 as a new division of Minnesota  Power.  The customers of MPEX are
          other power  suppliers  in the Midwest and Canada.  MPEX  contracts to
          provide hourly energy scheduling and power trading services.

       -  Superior Water,  Light and Power Company sells electricity and natural
          gas, and  provides  water  service in  northwestern  Wisconsin.  As of
          December 31, 1996,  SWL&P served  14,000  electric  customers,  11,000
          natural gas customers and 10,000 water customers.

       -  Minnesota Power  Enterprises,  Inc., a subsidiary of Minnesota  Power,
          was created in 1996 to facilitate the development of the non-regulated
          services of  electric  operations.  Subsidiaries  of  Minnesota  Power
          Enterprises,  Inc.  include BNI Coal,  Synertec,  Rainy  River,  Upper
          Minnesota Properties, Inc. and Minnesota Power Services Group, Inc.

           - BNI Coal owns and  operates  a lignite  mine in North  Dakota.  Two
             electric generating cooperatives,  Minnkota Power and Square Butte,
             presently consume virtually all of BNI Coal's production of lignite
             coal under  coal  supply  agreements  extending  to 2027.  Under an
             agreement with Square Butte,  Minnesota  Power purchases 71 percent
             of the  output  from the  Square  Butte  unit  which is  capable of
             generating up to 470 MW. Minnkota Power has an option to extend its
             coal supply agreement to 2042. (See - Fuel and Note 17.)

           - Synertec  provides  project  development,   planning,  construction
             management and operating services to new and expanding businesses.

           - Rainy River  provides  engineering,  and operating and  maintenance
             services to new and existing generating facilities.

           - Upper Minnesota Properties, Inc. has invested in affordable housing
             projects located in the electric operations' service territory. The
             Company  is also an active  participant  in a variety  of  economic
             development  projects  throughout the electric  operations' service
             territory providing resources and expertise.

           - Minnesota Power Services Group,  Inc. includes the Electric Outlet,
             Inc.,  a retail  store  that  sells  life-style  changing  electric
             products,  and also  researches new products to be offered for sale
             or distribution.

                                      -2-
<PAGE>

Electric Sales

         The two major  industries in Minnesota  Power's  service  territory are
taconite  production,  and  paper  and wood  products  manufacturing.  These two
industries  contributed  about 43 percent of the  Company's  electric  operating
revenue in 1996 and 47 percent in 1995 and 1994.

         Over the last five years,  80 percent of the  domestic  ore consumed by
iron and steel plants in the United States has originated from plants within the
Company's Minnesota electric service territory.  Taconite,  an iron-bearing rock
of relatively low iron content which is abundantly available in Minnesota, is an
important  domestic  source of raw  material  for the steel  industry.  Taconite
processing   plants  use  large  quantities  of  electric  power  to  grind  the
ore-bearing  rock and agglomerate and pelletize the iron particles into taconite
pellets. Annual taconite production in Minnesota was 46 million tons in 1996, 47
million tons in 1995 and 43 million  tons in 1994.  The Company  estimates  that
1997 Minnesota taconite production will be about 47 million tons. While taconite
production is expected to continue at annual  levels over 40 million  tons,  the
long-term  future of this  cyclical  industry is less  certain.  Production  may
decline gradually some time after the year 2005.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             Year Ended December 31,
Summary of Electric Revenue and Income                               1996             1995              1994
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                               <C>               <C>              <C>   
Total Electric Revenue and Income (000s)                          $529,190          $503,457         $458,356

Percentage of Total Electric Revenue and Income
     Retail
       Industrial
         Taconite and Iron Mining <F1>                                32%               35%              34%
         Paper and Other Wood Products                                11                12               13
         Other Industrial                                              6                 7                8
                                                                     ---               ---              --- 
           Total Industrial                                           49                54               55
       Residential                                                    12                11               12
       Commercial                                                     11                12               12
       Other Retail                                                    3                 3                3
     Resale                                                           13                 9                8
     Other Revenue and Income                                         12                11               10
                                                                     ---               ---              ---   
                                                                     100%              100%             100%
                                                                     ===               ===              ===
- -----------------------
<FN>                        
<F1>  Two of the Company's largest customers represented 11 percent and 8 percent,  respectively,  of total electric
      revenue  and income in 1996,  12 percent and 9 percent,  respectively,  in 1995 and 13 percent and 10 percent,
      respectively, in 1994.
</FN>
</TABLE>


         Large Power Customer Contracts

         The Company  has Large  Power  Customer  contracts  with five  taconite
producers, four paper and wood products manufacturers and two pipeline companies
(Large Power Customers).  Large Power Customer  contracts require the Company to
have a certain  amount of capacity  available  at all times (Firm  Power).  Each
contract requires 10 MW or more of power and payment of a minimum monthly demand
charge  that  covers some of the fixed  costs  associated  with having  capacity
available  to serve the  customer,  including  a return on common  equity.  Such
contracts  minimize  the impact on earnings  that  otherwise  would  result from
significant reductions in kilowatthour sales to such customers. These contracts,
which are subject to MPUC approval, have a minimum four-year cancellation notice
required for termination.  The rates and corresponding  revenue  associated with
capacity and energy provided under these contracts are subject to change through
the same regulatory process governing all retail electric rates. (See Regulatory
Issues - Electric Rates.)

                                      -3-
<PAGE>


         As of March 14,  1997,  the minimum  annual  revenue the Company  would
collect under contracts with these Large Power  Customers,  assuming no electric
energy use by these customers,  is estimated to be $101.0,  $88.3,  $79.4, $69.2
and  $61.0  million  during  the  years  1997,   1998,   1999,  2000  and  2001,
respectively. The Company believes revenue from these Large Power Customers will
be substantially in excess of the minimum contract amounts.
<TABLE>
                              Contract Status for Minnesota Power Large Power Customers
                                                as of March 14, 1997
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                    Earliest
Plant and Location              Operating Agent               Ownership                        Termination Date
- ------------------              ---------------               ---------                        ----------------
<S>                             <C>                           <C>                              <C>

EVTAC Mining                    EVTAC Mines L.L.C.            45% Rouge Steel Co.              October 31, 1999
   Eveleth, MN                                                40% AK Steel Co.
                                                              15% Stelco Inc.

Hibbing Taconite Co.            Cliffs Mining Company         70.3% Bethlehem Steel Corp.      December 31, 2001
   Hibbing, MN                                                15% Cleveland-Cliffs Inc.
                                                              14.7% Stelco Inc.

Inland Steel Mining Co.         Inland Steel Mining Co.       Inland Steel Co.                 October 31, 2000
   Virginia, MN

Minntac (USX)                   U.S. Steel Co.                USX Corp.                        December 31, 2007
   Mt. Iron, MN

National Steel Pellet Co.       National Steel Corp.          National Steel Corp.             October 31, 2004
   Keewatin, MN

Blandin Paper Co.               Blandin Paper Co.             Fletcher Challenge Canada Ltd.   April 30, 2004
   Grand Rapids, MN

Boise Cascade Corp.             Boise Cascade Corp.           Boise Cascade Corp.              December 31, 2002
   International Falls, MN

Lake Superior Paper             Lake Superior Paper           Consolidated Papers, Inc.        December 31, 2005
   Industries                      Industries
   Duluth, MN

Potlatch Corp.                  Potlatch Corp.                Potlatch Corp.                   December 31, 2002
   Cloquet and
   Brainerd, MN

Lakehead Pipe Line              Lakehead Pipe Line            Lakehead Pipe Line               April 30, 2001
   Deer River, MN                  Company Inc.                 Partners, L.P.
   Floodwood, MN

Minnesota Pipeline Company      Koch Pipeline Company L.P.    Koch Pipeline Company L.P.       September 30, 2002
   Staples, MN
   Little Falls, MN
   Park Rapids, MN
</TABLE>

                                      -4-

<PAGE>

Purchased Power

         Minnesota  Power  has  contracts  to  purchase  capacity  from  various
entities.  In addition to the contracts  listed  below,  the Company has entered
into various  smaller  purchase power  contracts for the purposes of meeting its
capacity needs or brokering power.

<TABLE>
                           Contract Status of Minnesota Power Purchased Power Contracts
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<CAPTION>
Entity                                          Contract MW                           Contract Period
- ------                                          -----------                           ---------------
Participation Power Purchases <F1>
- -----------------------------
<S>                                             <C>                        <C>
   
   Square Butte <F2>                                333                    May 6, 1977 through December 31, 2007

   LTV Steel                                        210                    May 1, 1995 though April 30, 2000

   Silver Bay Power                                  78                    November  1, 1995  through  October  31, 2000

- -------------------------
<FN>                         
<F1> Participation  power  purchase  contracts  require  the  Company to pay the
     demand  charges  for MW under  contract  and an energy  charge for each MWh
     purchased.  The selling  entity is obligated to provide energy as scheduled
     by the Company from the generating unit specified in the contract as energy
     is available from that unit.

<F2> Under an  agreement  extending  through 2007 with Square  Butte,  Minnesota
     Power  purchases 71 percent of the output of a mine-mouth  generating  unit
     capable of  generating  up to 470 MW. The Square Butte  generating  unit is
     located near Center,  North Dakota and is one of two lignite-fired units at
     Minnkota Power's Milton R. Young Generating Station. Reductions to about 49
     percent of the output are provided  for in the contract  and, at the option
     of Square  Butte,  could  begin  after a  five-year  advance  notice to the
     Company.  The cost of the power and  energy  purchased  is a  proportionate
     share of Square Butte's fixed obligations and operating costs which are not
     incurred  unless  production  takes place.  The Company is responsible  for
     paying all costs and expenses of Square Butte (including leasing, operating
     and any debt  service  costs) if not paid by Square  Butte when due.  These
     obligations   and   responsibilities   of  the  Company  are  absolute  and
     unconditional,  whether  or not any  power  is  actually  delivered  to the
     Company. (See Note 17.)
</FN>
</TABLE>

Capacity Sales

         Minnesota Power has contracts to sell capacity to nonaffiliated utility
companies.  In addition to the contracts  listed below,  the Company has entered
into  various  smaller  capacity  sales  contracts  for the  purposes of selling
surplus capacity or brokering power.

<TABLE>
                            Contract Status of Minnesota Power Capacity Sales Contracts
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<CAPTION>

Utility                                         Contract MW                           Contract Period
- -------                                         -----------                           ---------------
Participation Power Sales <F1>
- -------------------------
<S>                                             <C>                      <C>
   Interstate Power Company                         55                   May 1 through October 31 of each year from
                                                                           1994 through 2000
                                                    20                   November 1, 1997 through April 30, 1998
                                                    35                   November 1, 1998 through April 30, 1999
                                                    50                   November 1, 1999 through April 30, 2000
Firm Power Sales <F2>
- ----------------
   Wisconsin Power & Light Company                  30                   November 1, 1993 through December 31, 1997
                                                    75                   January 1, 1998 through December 31, 2007

   Northern States Power Company                   150                   May 1 through October 31 of each year from
                                                                           1997 through 2000
- ----------------------------
<FN>                        
<F1> Participation  power sales contracts require the purchasing  utility to pay
     the demand  charges for MW under contract and an energy charge for each MWh
     purchased.  The Company is obligated to provide  energy as scheduled by the
     purchasing  utility from the  generating  unit specified in the contract as
     energy is available from that unit.

<F2> Firm power sales contracts require the purchasing utility to pay the demand
     charges for MW under  contract and an energy charge for each MWh purchased.
     The Company is obligated to provide  energy as scheduled by the  purchasing
     utility.
</FN>
</TABLE>

                                      -5-
<PAGE>

Fuel
         The Company has experienced no difficulty in obtaining an adequate fuel
supply. The Company purchases  low-sulfur,  sub-bituminous  coal from the Powder
River Basin coal field located in Montana and Wyoming to meet  substantially all
of its coal supply requirements. Coal consumption for electric generation at the
Company's Minnesota coal-fired generating stations in 1996 was about 4.3 million
tons. As of December 31, 1996, the Company had a coal inventory of about 425,000
tons.  During  1996,  the  Company  obtained  its coal  through  both  long- and
short-term agreements.  During 1996 the Company entered into two new coal supply
agreements.  A long-term agreement with Big Sky Coal Company enables the Company
to purchase up to 2.5 million tons of coal on an  annualized  basis from the Big
Sky Mine.  Additionally,  the Company  entered into a three year  agreement with
Decker Coal Company to purchase up to 1.0 million tons of coal on an  annualized
basis from the Decker  Mine.  The Company  also has a long-term  agreement  with
Spring  Creek Coal  Company to  purchase  up to 4.0  million  tons of coal on an
annualized  basis from the Spring  Creek Mine.  The Company  will obtain coal in
1997 under these  long-term  agreements  and the spot  market.  This mix of coal
supply options allows the Company to reduce market risk and to take advantage of
favorable  spot  market  prices.  The  Company is  exploring  future coal supply
options and believes that adequate supplies of low-sulfur,  sub-bituminous  coal
will continue to be available.

         Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad transports the coal by unit train
from Montana or Wyoming to the Company's  generating  stations.  The Company and
Burlington  Northern  Santa Fe Railroad  have two  long-term  coal  freight-rate
contracts  that provide for coal  deliveries  through 2002 to Laskin and through
2003 to Boswell.  The Company also has a contract with the Duluth Missabe & Iron
Range  Railway  which is the final  destination  short-hauler  to  Laskin.  This
contract  provides for deliveries  through 2002. The delivered  price of coal is
subject to periodic adjustments in freight rates.

                                                 Year Ended December 31,
Summary of Coal Delivered to Minnesota Power   1996       1995       1994
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Average Price Per Ton                $19.30     $19.19     $19.27
         Average Price Per MBtu                $1.06      $1.07      $1.08

         The  generating  unit  operated  by Square  Butte,  which is capable of
generating  up to 470 MW, burns North Dakota  lignite that is being  supplied by
BNI Coal, a wholly owned  subsidiary of the Company,  pursuant to the terms of a
contract  expiring in 2027.  Square  Butte's cost of lignite  burned in 1996 was
approximately  60 cents per MBtu. The lignite acreage that has been dedicated to
Square Butte by BNI Coal is located on lands  essentially all of which are under
private  control  and  presently  leased by BNI  Coal.  This  lignite  supply is
sufficient to provide the fuel for the anticipated useful life of the generating
unit.   Under  the  various   agreements  with  Square  Butte,  the  Company  is
unconditionally  obligated  to pay all costs not paid by Square  Butte when due.
These costs include the price of lignite  purchased  under a cost-plus  contract
from BNI Coal. (See Item 2. Properties and Note 17.) BNI Coal has experienced no
difficulty in supplying all of Square Butte's lignite requirements.

Regulatory Issues

         The Company and its  subsidiaries  are exempt from regulation under the
Public Utility Holding  Company Act of 1935,  except as to Section 9(a)(2) which
relates to acquisition of securities of public utility operations.

         The Company and its  subsidiaries  are subject to the  jurisdiction  of
various regulatory authorities.  The MPUC has regulatory authority over electric
operations' service area in Minnesota,  retail rates, retail services,  issuance
of securities and other matters. The FERC has jurisdiction over the licensing of
hydroelectric  projects,  the establishment of rates and charges for the sale of
electricity  for  resale  and for  transmission  of  electricity  in  interstate
commerce,  and certain  accounting  and record keeping  practices.  The PSCW has
regulatory  authority  over the retail  sales of  electricity,  water and gas by
SWL&P.  The MPUC,  FERC and PSCW had regulatory  authority  over 69 percent,  13
percent, and 8 percent,  respectively,  of the Company's 1996 electric operating
revenue and income.

                                      -6-
<PAGE>

         Electric  Rates

         The Company has historically  designed its electric service rates based
on cost of service  studies  under  which  allocations  are made to the  various
classes of customers. Nearly all retail sales include billing adjustment clauses
which  adjust  electric  service  rates  for  changes  in the  cost of fuel  and
purchased energy, and recovery of current and deferred CIP expenditures.

         The  Company's  Firm Power rate  schedules  are designed to recover the
fixed costs of providing Firm Power to Large Power Customers, including a return
on common equity. A Large Power Customer's  monthly demand charge  obligation in
any particular month is determined based upon the firm demand amount.  The rates
and  corresponding  revenue  associated  with capacity and energy provided under
these contracts are subject to change through the regulatory  process  governing
all  retail  electric  rates.  Contracts  with  ten of the  eleven  Large  Power
Customers  provide for deferral  without interest or diminishment of one-half of
demand charge obligations  incurred during the first three months of a strike or
illegal  walkout at a customer's  facilities,  with repayment  required over the
12-month period following resolution of the work stoppage. (See Electric Sales -
Large Power Customer Contracts.)

         The Company also has contracts  with large  industrial  and  commercial
customers  who have  monthly  demands  of more  than 2 MW but less than 10 MW of
capacity  (Large Light and Power  Customers).  The terms of these contracts vary
depending  upon the  customers'  demand for power and the cost of extending  the
Company's facilities to provide electric service.  Generally,  the contracts for
less than 3 MW have  one-year  terms and the  contracts  ranging from 3 to 10 MW
have initial  five-year  terms.  The Company's rate schedule for Large Light and
Power Customers is designed to minimize fluctuations in revenue and to recover a
significant portion of the fixed costs of providing service to such customers.

         The Company requires that all large industrial and commercial customers
under contract specify the date when power is first required, and thereafter the
customer is billed for at least the minimum power for which it contracted. These
conditions are part of all contracts  covering power to be supplied to new large
industrial and commercial  customers and to current contract  customers as their
contracts expire or are amended. All contracts provide that new rates which have
been  approved  by  appropriate   regulatory  authorities  will  be  substituted
immediately  for obsolete  rates,  without  regard to any unexpired  term of the
existing  contract.  All rate  schedules are subject to approval by  appropriate
regulatory authorities.

         Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

         The FERC has jurisdiction over the Company's wholesale electric service
resale customers and transmission service (wheeling) customers. In a filing with
the FERC on December 22, 1995, the Company requested an overall rate decrease of
$138,000 or 0.4 percent with an effective  date of January 1,  1996.  All of the
customers  affected by the rate change  submitted  written  consents to the rate
change and effective date. Minor  modifications to the rate request were made in
an amendment filed on January 16,  1996. On June 19, 1996, the FERC accepted the
proposed rates as filed.

         The Company has contracts  with 13 Minnesota  municipalities  receiving
full requirements resale service. One contract is for service through 2001 while
the other 12 are for service  through at least 2007.  The  contracts  limit rate
increases  (including  fuel costs) to about 2 percent  per year on a  cumulative
basis.  In 1996  the 13  municipal  customers  purchased  463,394  MWh  from the
Company.

         Two  municipalities  whose  requirements are only partially supplied by
the Company  have  contracts  with the Company  through  2000.  These  municipal
customers  signed  amendments  under which the Company  will  provide  exclusive
brokering service for the  municipalities'  purchases of economy energy and will
supply emergency,  scheduled outage and firm energy as required through 2000. In
1996 these two municipalities purchased 154,873 MWh from the Company. 

         A contract  between  Minnesota  Power and SWL&P  provides  for SWL&P to
purchase  its power from the  Company  through  at least  2010 and  limits  rate
increases  (including  fuel costs) to about 2 percent  per year on a  cumulative
basis. SWL&P purchased 562,969 MWh from the Company in 1996.

         The Company also has a contract  through 2004 to supply  electricity to
Dahlberg  Light and  Power  Company  (Dahlberg),  a  private  utility.  Dahlberg
purchased 86,099 MWh from the Company in 1996.

                                      -7-
<PAGE>

         The Company's  hydroelectric  facilities which are located in Minnesota
are  licensed  by the FERC.  In 1995 the FERC  issued  to the  Company a 30-year
license  for the St.  Louis  River  hydroelectric  project  (87.6 MW  generating
capability).  In 1996 the FERC  extended  the  license  term from 30 to 40 years
because  of certain  mandates  to  mitigate  environmental  consequences  of the
project.  On  May 11,  1995,  a final  application  to  relicense  the  Pillager
hydroelectric  project (1.5 MW generating  capability)  was filed with the FERC.
The  Company  expects  that the FERC  will  issue a new  license  in 1997.  (See
Environmental Matters - Water.)
         
         Minnesota Public Utilities Commission
        
         In  November  1994 the MPUC  issued an order  granting  the  Company an
overall  increase in annual electric  operating  revenue of $19 million,  or 6.4
percent,  with an 11.6 percent return on equity.  Effective June 1, 1995,  rates
for large industrial customers increased less than 4 percent, while the rate for
small  businesses  increased 6.5 percent.  The rate  increases  for  residential
customers were approved to be phased in over three years:  13.5 percent began in
June 1995,  3.75  percent in January  1996,  and another 3.75 percent in January
1997.
         Minnesota requires electric utilities to spend a minimum of 1.5 percent
of gross annual retail  electric  revenue on conservation  improvement  programs
(CIP) each year. In 1996,  1995 and 1994, the Company spent $14.4,  $14.2 and $8
million,  respectively,  on CIP and  expects  to spend a total  of $8.2  million
during 1997. The MPUC allows such conservation expenditures in excess of amounts
recovered  through  current rates to be  accumulated  in a deferred  account for
future recovery.

         Since January 1994 the Company has been recovering ongoing CIP spending
and $8.2  million  of CIP  spending  from  previous  years.  Through  a  billing
adjustment and retail base rates approved by the MPUC, the Company is allowed to
recover current and deferred CIP  expenditures  and the lost margins  associated
with  power  saved as a result of these  programs.  The  Company  collected  CIP
related revenue of $10.8 million in 1996 and 1995, and $7.8 million in 1994.

         Public Service Commission of Wisconsin

         SWL&P  anticipates  receiving  approval from the PSCW to expand its gas
service  territory  to serve one  additional  rural  community  adjacent  to its
existing service  territory.  This $1.6 million expansion project is expected to
be completed by the end of 1997.

Capital Expenditure Program

         Capital expenditures for electric operations totaled $38 million during
1996.  Internally generated funds and long-term bank financing were used to fund
these capital expenditures.

         The Company's  electric  generating  stations have the capacity to meet
customer  needs  through  2002  without  major  capacity   additions.   Electric
operations capital expenditures are expected to be $33 million in 1997 and total
approximately  $135 million during the period 1998 through 2001. The 1997 amount
is for  electric  system  component  replacement  and  upgrades.  The  Company's
estimates of such capital  expenditures and the sources of financing are subject
to continuing review and adjustment.

Competition

         The electric  utility  industry is changing at both the  wholesale  and
retail  levels.  The  enactment of the Energy  Policy Act of 1992 resulted in an
increase in the  competitive  forces that affect three of the four components of
the electric utility industry: generation, transmission and power marketing. The
fourth  component,  local  distribution,  is subject to state  regulation.  This
legislation has resulted in a more competitive market for electricity  generally
and particularly in wholesale markets. Wholesale deregulation is underway, while
retail  deregulation of the industry is being considered at both the federal and
state  levels,  and is  affecting  the way the Company  strategically  views the
future.  With  electric  rates among the lowest in the U.S.  and with  long-term
wholesale and large power retail contracts in place, Minnesota Power believes it
is well positioned to address competitive pressures.

                                      -8-
<PAGE>

         Wholesale

         During 1996 the Company completed  functional  unbundling of operations
under the requirements of FERC's Order No. 888 Open Access  Transmission  Rules.
Order No. 888 requires public utilities to take  transmission  service for their
own  wholesale  transactions  under  the  same  terms  and  conditions  on which
transmission  service is  provided to third  parties.  The Company has filed its
open access transmission tariff with the FERC, and expects to receive final FERC
rate  approval in 1997.  The Company has also filed its "Code of Conduct"  under
FERC's Order No. 889 Open Access Same Time  Information  System and Standards of
Conduct to formalize the functional  separation of generation from  transmission
within the organization.  As a result,  the transmission  component of Minnesota
Power's  electric  utility  business  is well  organized  for,  and has begun to
operate under, these new federal regulatory requirements.

         Minnesota  Power's  newly formed MPEX division  currently  conducts the
power marketing  function.  FERC approval of Minnesota  Power's wholesale market
based  rates  enabled  MPEX to conduct a  wholesale  power and energy  marketing
business in 1996. During 1996 Minnesota Power also completed  compliance filings
under FERC's Open Access Transmission Rules to separately state the transmission
component of the Company's coordination sales agreements,  and is awaiting final
FERC  approvals.  MPEX continues to review new strategic  opportunities  for its
wholesale  marketing  operations  in light of the new Open  Access  Transmission
Rules enacted by FERC and of the new power and energy markets within MAPP.  (See
Item 2. Properties - Electric Operations.)

         Retail

         In 1995  the  MPUC  initiated  an  investigation  into  structural  and
regulatory  issues  in the  electric  utility  industry.  To make  certain  that
delivery  of  electric   service   continues  to  be  efficient   following  any
restructuring,  the MPUC adopted 15 principles to guide a deliberate and orderly
approach to developing  reasonable  restructuring  alternatives  that ensure the
fairness of a  competitive  market and protect the public  interest.  In January
1996  the  MPUC  established  a  competition  working  group  in  which  company
representatives  have participated in addressing issues related to wholesale and
retail  competition.  Minnesota Power has  implemented a key account  management
process and anticipates  continuing  negotiations  with its large industrial and
commercial customers to explore contractual options to lower energy costs. These
customers  continue  to  aggressively  seek  lower  energy  costs  and  consider
alternative suppliers in anticipation of deregulated retail markets.

         Legislation

         In 1997 Congress and the Minnesota legislature are expected to continue
to debate proposed legislation which, if enacted,  would promote customer choice
and a more competitive electric market. The Company is actively participating in
the  dialogue  and debate on these  issues in  various  forums,  principally  to
advocate  fairness  and  parity  for all power  and  energy  competitors  in any
deregulated  markets  that may be created by any new  legislation.  The  Company
cannot predict the timing or substance of any legislation which might ultimately
be  enacted.  However,  the  Company  continues  taking  steps to  maintain  its
competitive position as a low-cost supplier and maintain its long-term contracts
with large  industrial  customers.  The Company is also advocating  property tax
reform  before the Minnesota  legislature  in order to eliminate the taxation of
personal  property that results in an  inequitable  tax burden among current and
potential competitors in local markets.  Finally,  SWL&P is participating in the
electric  restructuring  investigation  before the PSCW,  which is advising  the
Wisconsin legislature on recommended restructuring in Wisconsin.

Franchises

         Minnesota Power holds  franchises to construct and maintain an electric
distribution and  transmission  system in 86 cities and towns located within its
electric service territory. SWL&P holds franchises in 15 cities and towns within
its service  territory.  The remaining  cities and towns served will not grant a
franchise or do not require a franchise to operate within their boundaries.

                                      -9-
<PAGE>

Environmental Matters

         The Company's electric  operations are subject to regulation by various
federal, state and local authorities in the areas of air quality, water quality,
solid  wastes,  and other  environmental  matters.  The  Company  considers  its
electric  operations to be in substantial  compliance  with those  environmental
regulations  currently  applicable to its  operations and believes all necessary
permits to conduct  such  operations  have been  obtained.  The Company does not
currently  anticipate that its potential capital  expenditures for environmental
matters will be material.  However,  because  environmental laws and regulations
are  constantly   evolving,   the   character,   scope  and  ultimate  costs  of
environmental compliance cannot be estimated.

         Air

         The Federal  Clean Air Act  Amendments  of 1990 (Clean Air Act) require
that  specified  fossil-fueled  generating  plants  meet new sulfur  dioxide and
nitrogen oxide emission  standards  beginning January 1, 1995 (Phase I) and that
virtually all generating  plants meet more strict emission  standards  beginning
January 1, 2000 (Phase II). None of Minnesota Power's generating  facilities are
covered  by the Phase I  requirements  of the Clean Air Act.  However,  Phase II
requirements apply to the Company's Boswell,  Laskin and Hibbard plants, as well
as Square Butte.

         The Clean Air Act creates emission  allowances for sulfur dioxide based
on formulas  relating to the  permitted  1985  emissions  rate and a baseline of
average fossil fuel consumed in the years 1985, 1986 and 1987. Each allowance is
an authorization  to emit one ton of sulfur dioxide,  and each utility must have
sufficient   allowances  to  cover  its  annual  emissions.   Minnesota  Power's
generating  facilities  in  Minnesota  burn mainly  low-sulfur  western coal and
Square  Butte,  located  in  North  Dakota,  burns  lignite  coal.  All of these
facilities  are equipped with  pollution  control  equipment  such as scrubbers,
baghouses  or  electrostatic  precipitators.  Phase II sulfur  dioxide  emission
requirements are currently being met by Boswell Unit 4. Some moderate reductions
in emissions  may be necessary  for Boswell Units 1, 2 and 3, Laskin Units 1 and
2, and Square Butte to meet the Phase II sulfur dioxide  emission  requirements.
The Company  believes it is in a good position to comply with the sulfur dioxide
standards  without  extensive  modifications.  Any  required  reductions  at the
Minnesota  generating  facilities are expected to be achieved through the use of
lower  sulfur  coal.  Square  Butte  anticipates   meeting  its  sulfur  dioxide
requirements  through  increased  use of  existing  scrubbers  or by  purchasing
additional allowances.

         The EPA, pursuant to the Clean Air Act, has established  nitrogen oxide
limitations  for Phase II  generating  units.  To meet Phase II  nitrogen  oxide
limitations,  the Company  expects to install at its plants  low-nitrogen  oxide
burner   technology  by  the  year  2000.  The  total  cost  of  installing  the
low-nitrogen  oxide burner technology and associated  facilities for Boswell and
Laskin is currently  estimated to be $6 million.  Options for complying with the
nitrogen  oxide  limitations  at Square Butte are being studied at this time and
include operational changes, capital expenditures and seeking regulatory relief.
The EPA decided not to promulgate  nitrogen  oxide  limitations  for the type of
boilers at Hibbard.

         The Company is participating in a voluntary program (Climate Challenge)
with the U.S.  Department of Energy to identify  activities that the Company has
taken and  additional  measures  that the Company may  undertake  on a voluntary
basis  that  will  result  in  limitations,   reductions  or  sequestrations  of
greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2000. The Company has agreed to participate
in this voluntary  program  provided that such  participation is consistent with
the Company's  integrated  resource planning  process,  does not have a material
adverse effect on the Company's  competitive  position with respect to rates and
costs, and continues to be acceptable to the Company's regulators.  The costs to
Minnesota  Power  associated  with Climate  Challenge  participation  are minor,
reflecting program facilitation and voluntary reporting costs.

         Water

         The Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972 (FWPCA),  as amended by
the Clean Water Act of 1977 and the Water Quality Act of 1987,  established  the
National  Pollutant  Discharge  Elimination  System (NPDES) permit program.  The
FWPCA requires that NPDES permits be obtained from the EPA (or, when  delegated,
from individual state pollution control agencies) for any wastewater  discharged
into  navigable  waters.  The Company has obtained all necessary  NPDES permits,
including  NPDES storm water permits for applicable  facilities,  to conduct its
electric operations.

                                      -10-
<PAGE>

       Summary of National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permits
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Facility                     Issue Date              Expiration Date
- --------                     ----------              ---------------

Laskin                       December 22, 1993       October 31, 1998
Boswell                      February 4, 1993        December 31, 1997
Hibbard                      September 29, 1994      June 30, 1999
Arrowhead DC Terminal        June 17, 1996           March 31, 2001
General Office Building/
   Lake Superior Plaza       May 1, 1995             December 31, 1997
Square Butte                 July 1, 1995            June 30, 2000
 
         The Company holds from the FERC licenses  authorizing the ownership and
operation of seven  hydroelectric  generating  projects with a total  generating
capacity of 121 MW. In 1991 the Company submitted  applications for new licenses
for four of the  projects.  By  orders  issued  in 1993,  the FERC  granted  new
licenses with terms of 30 years each, expiring December 31, 2023, for the Little
Falls (4.7 MW), Sylvan (1.8 MW), and Prairie River (1.1 MW) projects.

         On July 13, 1995, the FERC issued to the Company a 30-year  license for
the St. Louis River  hydroelectric  project (87.6 MW), with an effective date of
July 1, 1995.  The Company filed a request for rehearing of the FERC's order for
the purpose of challenging certain terms and conditions of the license which, if
accepted by the Company,  would alter the Company's operation of the project. In
1996 the FERC  issued a new license in  response  to the  rehearing  request and
extended the license term from 30 to 40 years because of the anticipated  impact
of FERC's mandates to mitigate  environmental  consequences of the project.  The
FERC also  directed the Company to  negotiate  with the Fond du Lac Band of Lake
Superior  Chippewa a reasonable annual charge for the use of tribal lands within
the project. In June 1996 the Company filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the
District of Columbia Circuit a petition for review of the 1996 license as issued
by the FERC.  Separate  petitions for review were also filed in June 1996 in the
same court by the U.S.  Department  of the  Interior and the Fond du Lac Band of
Lake Superior Chippewa, two intervenors in the licensing proceedings. The issues
to be resolved concern the terms and conditions of the license which will govern
the Company's  operation and maintenance of the project.  In July 1996 the court
consolidated  the three petitions for review.  In October 1996 the Company filed
with the court an unopposed motion for a procedural  schedule  pursuant to which
the  briefing  of the  issues  would be  completed  in May 1997.  The motion was
granted by the court;  however,  the briefing  schedule has been suspended while
the Company and the Fond du Lac Band  negotiate  the  reasonable  fee for use of
tribal  lands as mandated by the new license.  Both  parties  have  informed the
court that these  negotiations may resolve other disputed  issues,  and they are
obligated to report to the court periodically the status of these discussions.

         An  application  to relicense  the Pillager  project (1.5 MW) was filed
with  the  FERC  on  May  11,  1995.  The  FERC  will  perform  an  engineering,
environmental  and economic  analysis of that  application in order to determine
whether to issue a new license  for the  project.  The  current  license for the
project  expires  on  May  11,  1997.  FERC  scoping  meetings  to  discuss  any
environmental  and  operational  issues  related  to this  project  were held in
October  1996 with the resource  agencies and the public.  The FERC staff sought
input  related  to  any  water  quality,  fishery,  terrestrial,   cultural  and
recreation  issues  that the  agencies  and public have prior to  preparing  the
environmental  assessment for this project.  To date, no substantive issues have
been raised by the resource  agencies or the public in the license  process.  In
the event that the current  license should expire prior to the issuance of a new
license,  the FERC is required to issue an annual  license to the Company  under
the terms and  conditions  of the  existing  license  until the new  license  is
issued.

         The two remaining hydroelectric projects,  Blanchard (18 MW) and Winton
(4 MW) have FERC licenses  that expire in 2003.  The Company is currently in the
planning stages for the relicensing of these two facilities.

                                      -11-
<PAGE>
        
 Solid Waste

         The  Resource  Conservation  and  Recovery  Act of 1976  regulates  the
management and disposal of solid wastes.  As a result of this  legislation,  the
EPA has promulgated  various  hazardous waste rules.  The Company is required to
notify the EPA of hazardous  waste activity and routinely  submits the necessary
annual reports to the EPA.

         In response to EPA Region V's request for utilities to  participate  in
their Great Lakes Initiative by voluntarily  removing remaining  polychlorinated
biphenyl   (PCB)   inventories,   the  Company  is  scheduling   replacement  of
PCB-contaminated  oil  from  substation  equipment  by 1998 and  removal  of PCB
capacitors by 2004. The total cost is expected to be between $1.5 and $2 million
of which $300,000 was expended through December 31, 1996. The Company expects to
expend about $110,000 in 1997.

         Mining Control and Reclamation

         BNI Coal's mining operations are governed by the Federal Surface Mining
Control  and  Reclamation  Act of 1977.  This Act,  together  with the rules and
regulations  adopted  thereunder by the  Department  of the Interior,  Office of
Surface  Mining  Reclamation  and  Enforcement  (OSM),  governs the  approval or
disapproval of all mining permits on federally owned land and the actions of the
OSM in approving or disapproving  state regulatory  programs  regulating  mining
activities.  The North Dakota Reclamation of Strip Mined Lands Act and rules and
regulations  enacted  thereunder in 1969, as  subsequently  amended by the North
Dakota Mining and Reclamation Act and rules and regulations  enacted  thereunder
in 1977,  govern the  reclamation  of surface  mined lands and are  generally as
stringent or more stringent than the federal rules and  regulations.  Compliance
is monitored  by the North Dakota  Public  Service  Commission.  The federal and
state laws and  regulations  require a wide range of procedures  including water
management,  topsoil and subsoil segregation,  stockpiling and revegetation, and
the posting of performance bonds to assure  compliance.  In general,  these laws
and  regulations  require the reclaiming of mined lands to a level of usefulness
equal to or greater  than that  available  before  active  mining.  The  Company
considers  BNI Coal to be in  substantial  compliance  with those  environmental
regulations  currently  applicable to its  operations and believes all necessary
permits to conduct such operations have been obtained.

                                      -12-


<PAGE>

                                 Water Services

         Water  services  include  Florida  Water,  Heater and ISI, three wholly
owned  subsidiaries of the Company.  Water services have been upgrading existing
facilities,  building  new  facilities,  acquiring  new  systems  and  expanding
unregulated services.

         -   Florida Water,  formerly Southern States Utilities,  Inc., owns and
             operates  water and  wastewater  treatment  facilities  in Florida.
             Florida  Water is the  largest  investor  owned  water  supplier in
             Florida.  As of  December 31,  1996,  Florida Water served  120,000
             water customers and 54,000 wastewater treatment customers.

         -   Heater owns and operates  three  companies  which provide water and
             wastewater treatment services in North Carolina and South Carolina.
             As of  December 31,  1996,  these  companies  served  22,000  water
             customers and 1,000 wastewater treatment customers.

             During  1996  Heater  made a  strategic  decision to exit the South
             Carolina  water and  wastewater  utility  business.  In March  1996
             Heater of Seabrook,  Inc. (Seabrook),  a wholly owned subsidiary of
             Heater,  sold all of its water and wastewater utility assets to the
             Town of Seabrook Island, South Carolina for $5.9 million. This sale
             was negotiated in  anticipation  of an eminent domain action by the
             Town of Seabrook  Island,  South Carolina.  In December 1996 Heater
             sold its  Columbia,  South  Carolina  area  water  systems to South
             Carolina Water and Sewer,  L.L.C.  One service area remains and the
             pending sale is  anticipated  to be  finalized in 1997.  (See South
             Carolina Public Service Commission.)

             On  December  31,  1996,  Heater and the  shareholders  of LaGrange
             Waterworks  Corporation  (LaGrange),  a water utility serving 5,300
             customers near Fayetteville,  North Carolina, requested the NCUC to
             approve the transfer of LaGrange to Heater in a stock  transaction.
             The NCUC held hearings on February 19 and March 13,  1997. An order
             is expected in May 1997.

          -  Instrumentation  Services,  Inc.  provides  predictive  maintenance
             services to water utility companies and other industrial operations
             in North Carolina,  South Carolina,  Florida,  Georgia,  Tennessee,
             Virginia and Texas. The Company acquired ISI in 1996.

Regulatory Issues

         Florida Public Service Commission

         The following summarizes current rate proceedings in Florida.

         1995 Rate Case

         Florida Water requested an $18.1 million rate increase in June 1995. On
October 30,  1996,  the FPSC  issued its final  order in the Florida  Water rate
case. The final order  established  water and wastewater rates for all customers
of Florida Water regulated by the FPSC. The new rates, which became effective on
September  20,  1996,   resulted  in  an  annualized   increase  in  revenue  of
approximately $11.1 million. This increase included, and was not in addition to,
the $7.9  million  increase  in  annualized  revenue  granted as  interim  rates
effective on January 23, 1996.  The FPSC  approved a new rate  structure  called
"capband," which replaces uniform rates. The new structure  combines the concept
of a "cap" on monthly bills at a certain  usage level for 85 of Florida  Water's
facilities that are more expensive to operate, with a "banding," or grouping, of
rates paid by customers served by the 56 less expensive facilities.  On November
1, 1996,  Florida Water filed with the Florida First  District  Court of Appeals
(Court of Appeals) an appeal of the FPSC's final order seeking  judicial  review
of issues relating to the amount of investment in utility facilities recoverable
in rates from current customers. Motions for reconsideration of the FPSC's final
order  were  denied  by the FPSC on March 19,  1997.  The  Company  is unable to
predict the outcome of this matter.  Florida law provides  that the new rates be
implemented, subject to refund, while the order is under appeal.

                                      -13-


<PAGE>

         1991 Rate Case Refund Order

         Responding to a Florida Supreme Court decision  addressing the issue of
retroactive  ratemaking with respect to another company,  in March 1996 the FPSC
voted to  reconsider  an October  1995 order  (Refund  Order)  which  would have
required Florida Water to refund about $13 million,  which includes interest, to
customers  who paid more since  October 1993 under uniform rates than they would
have paid under  stand-alone  rates.  Under the  Refund  Order,  the  collection
through a  surcharge  of the  $13 million  from  customers  who paid less  under
uniform  rates would not be  permitted.  The Refund Order was in response to the
Court of Appeals  reversal  in April 1995 of the 1993 FPSC order  which  imposed
uniform  rates  for most of  Florida  Water's  service  areas in  Florida.  With
"uniform  rates," all customers in the uniform rate areas pay the same rates for
water and wastewater services. Uniform rates are an alternative to "stand-alone"
rates which are  calculated  based on the cost of serving each service area. The
FPSC  reconsidered the Refund Order, but upheld by a 3 to 2 vote its decision to
order refunds without  surcharges in August 1996.  Florida Water filed an appeal
of this  decision  with the  Court of  Appeals.  A  decision  on the  appeal  is
anticipated  by early 1998.  The Company  continues  to believe that it would be
improper  for the FPSC to  order a refund  to one  group  of  customers  without
permitting  recovery of a similar amount from the remaining  customers since the
Court of Appeals affirmed the Company's total revenue requirement for operations
in Florida. No provision for refund has been recorded.  The Company is unable to
predict the outcome of this matter.

         Florida Jurisdictional Issues

         In June  1995  the FPSC  issued  an order  assuming  jurisdiction  over
Florida Water facilities  statewide following an investigation of all of Florida
Water's  facilities.  Several counties in Florida appealed this FPSC decision to
the Court of Appeals.  In December  1996 the Court of Appeals  issued an opinion
reversing  the FPSC order.  On  December 26,  1996,  the FPSC filed a motion for
clarification and for rehearing with the Court of Appeals.  The Court of Appeals
denied this motion on January 22, 1997. On February 14, 1997, the FPSC issued an
order which  requires  Florida  Water to charge  rates to  customers in Hernando
County based on a modified  stand-alone  rate structure.  The imposition of this
rate  structure  would  reduce  Florida  Water  revenue  by  $1.6 million  on  a
prospective annual basis. On February 28, 1997, Florida Water filed a motion for
reconsideration of this order. The Company anticipates that a ruling against the
Company on this appeal may encourage  other  counties to exercise their right to
regulate  the  rates  for  water  and  wastewater  facilities  located  in their
respective  counties.  In the event county  regulation  of water and  wastewater
rates prevails,  the Company anticipates that the regulatory process will become
significantly more complex and expensive.
         
         South Carolina Public Service Commission

         During 1994 and 1995 Heater was denied a rate  increase  from the SCPSC
for requests filed for Seabrook and Upstate Heater  Utilities,  Inc.  (Upstate).
Heater filed  appeals for both rate  increases and began  collecting  the higher
rates for water and  wastewater  services  at  Seabrook  under a surety  bond in
February 1995.  Rates under bond collected for Seabrook  amounted to $359,350 at
December 31,  1996.  In August  1996 the South  Carolina  Supreme  Court  upheld
Heater's  appeal and  remanded the case to the SCPSC.  Heater  continues to hold
these rates under bond pending a final decision from the SCPSC.  On February 21,
1997,  the SCPSC  issued an order  granting  Seabrook a $66,480  annual  revenue
increase. Heater filed a motion for reconsideration in March 1997.

         The appeal for Upstate  resulted  in a remand  from the South  Carolina
Court of Common Pleas (Court of Common  Pleas) and a revised order issued by the
SCPSC in September  1995.  Heater filed another  appeal with the Court of Common
Pleas,  and began collecting the higher rates for water service at Upstate under
a surety bond in January 1996.  Rates under bond  collected for Upstate  totaled
$65,861 at December 31,  1996. If this appeal is denied,  Heater must refund the
difference  between the amounts collected and the approved rates plus 12 percent
interest.  On  February  3,  1997,  the  Court of Common  Pleas  issued an order
vacating  the  September  1995  order and  remanded  the order to the  SCPSC.  A
decision by the SCPSC is expected in April 1997.

                                      -14-

<PAGE>

Capital Expenditure Program

         Capital  expenditures  for water services  totaled  $22 million  during
1996.  Expenditures were funded with the proceeds from long-term bonds issued by
Florida Water and  internally  generated  funds.  Capital  expenditures  for the
Company's  water  services  are  expected  to be  $21 million  in  1997  to meet
environmental  standards,  expand water and wastewater  treatment  facilities to
accommodate  customer growth,  and for water conservation  initiatives.  Capital
expenditures are expected to total  approximately  $85 million during the period
1998 through 2001.

Competition

         Water services provide water and wastewater services at regulated rates
within exclusive service territories granted by regulators.

Franchises

         Florida Water provides water and  wastewater  treatment  services in 22
counties regulated by the FPSC and holds franchises in three counties which have
retained authority to regulate such operations. (See Regulatory Issues - Florida
Public Service Commission.)

         All of the  water  and  wastewater  services  of  Heater  are under the
jurisdiction of the SCPSC and the NCUC. These  commissions  grant franchises for
Heater's service territory when the rates are authorized.

Environmental Matters

         The  Company's  water  services  are subject to  regulation  by various
federal,  state  and local  authorities  in the  areas of water  quality,  solid
wastes,  and  other  environmental  matters.  The  Company  considers  its water
services to  generally be in  compliance  with those  environmental  regulations
currently applicable to its operations and have the permits necessary to conduct
such  operations.  Except  as  noted  below,  the  Company  does  not  currently
anticipate that its potential  capital  expenditures for  environmental  matters
will be  material.  However,  because  environmental  laws and  regulations  are
constantly  evolving,  the character,  scope and ultimate costs of environmental
compliance cannot be estimated.

         In 1993 the EPA  notified  Florida  Water  of  alleged  exceedences  of
effluent  limitations  in NPDES  permit for Florida  Water's  facilities  in the
University Shores service area in Orange County,  Florida. During 1993 and 1994,
Florida Water  periodically  corresponded  and met with the EPA  concerning  the
alleged  exceedences  of the permit.  In  February  1994 the  University  Shores
facility was modified  such that  effluent was no longer  discharged  to surface
waters.  In 1992 the EPA  notified  Florida  Water  of  alleged  exceedences  of
effluent limitations in the NPDES permit for Florida Water's Seaboard wastewater
treatment   facility.   Between  1992  and  1994,   Florida  Water  periodically
corresponded and met with the EPA concerning alleged  exceedences of the permit.
In March 1994 the  facility was taken out of service and the  collection  system
was  interconnected  with the City of Tampa Utilities.  In February 1997 Florida
Water was notified by the United States  Department of Justice (DOJ) that unless
a settlement  can be promptly  achieved,  the DOJ, at the request of the EPA, is
prepared to bring a federal  court action  against  Florida  Water seeking civil
penalties for alleged  violations of effluent  limitations  in the NPDES permits
occurring at the  University  Shores and  Seaboard  wastewater  facilities  from
February 1992 through March 1994.  For purposes of settlement  discussions,  the
DOJ proposed a penalty totaling $3.25 million. Florida Water submitted a counter
settlement  offer of  $141,000  to the DOJ on March 26,  1997.  A  meeting  is
scheduled on April 4, 1997, with the DOJ to discuss settlement  options.  If the
DOJ pursues  litigation,  it is possible  that the claim  against  Florida Water
could  substantially  exceed  $3.25 million.  If a reasonable  resolution is not
reached,  Florida  Water  intends to  vigorously  contest  any  action  which is
initiated by the DOJ. The Company is currently unable to predict the outcome of
these matters.

                                      -15-

<PAGE>

         In  September  1993 the EPA issued an  Administrative  Order to Florida
Water regarding operations of Florida Water's facilities in the Woodmere service
area in Duval County,  Florida (Woodmere  facilities).  The EPA required Florida
Water to perform a Toxicity Reduction Evaluation (TRE) to determine the cause of
the toxicity problems with the wastewater effluent. In March 1996 the EPA closed
the  Administrative  Order and  delegated  enforcement  authority to the Florida
Department of Environmental Protection.

         In 1996 water services  invested  approximately  $10.2 million of a $22
million  annual  capital  expenditure  budget (or  approximately  46 percent) in
facilities necessary to comply with environmental requirements.  In 1997 Florida
Water expects that  approximately $7.5 million of the $21 million annual capital
expenditure  budget (or  approximately  36 percent)  will be necessary to comply
with environmental requirements.


                               Automotive Services

         Automotive services include ADESA's auction facilities, AFC, which is a
finance company,  and an auto transport company. The Company acquired 80 percent
of ADESA on July 1, 1995. On January 31,  1996, the Company provided  additional
capital in exchange for an additional 3 percent of ADESA.  On  August 21,  1996,
the Company  acquired the remaining 17 percent  interest of ADESA from the ADESA
management shareholders.

         -   ADESA is a wholly owned  subsidiary of the Company and is the third
             largest  automobile  auction business in the United States.  ADESA,
             headquartered  in  Indianapolis,  Indiana,  owns  and  operates  24
             automobile  auction  facilities  in the  United  States  and Canada
             through  which used cars and other  vehicles are sold to franchised
             automobile  dealers  and  licensed  used car  dealers.  Sellers  at
             ADESA's auctions  include domestic and foreign auto  manufacturers,
             car dealers,  fleet/lease  companies,  banks and finance companies.
             ADESA   opened  new  auto   auctions  in   Manville,   New  Jersey;
             Jacksonville,  Florida and Moncton, New Brunswick,  Canada in 1996.
             ADESA also acquired auction businesses in Houston,  San Antonio and
             Dallas,  Texas;  Portage,  Wisconsin and  Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania
             during 1996.

         -   Automotive Finance  Corporation  provides  inventory  financing for
             wholesale and retail automobile  dealers who purchase vehicles from
             ADESA auctions, independent auctions as well as auction chains. AFC
             is  headquartered in  Indianapolis,  Indiana,  and has over 40 loan
             production  offices  which are located at most ADESA  auctions,  as
             well as several  independently owned auto auctions.  AFC expects to
             expand in 1997.

         -   ADESA Auto Transport,  Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of ADESA, is
             one  of  the  nation's  largest  independent  automobile  transport
             carriers with about 90 transport  vehicles.  ADESA Auto  Transport,
             Inc.  offers  customers  pick up and delivery,  four  strategically
             located   transportation   hubs  and  an   on-site   transportation
             representative at every ADESA auction.  It hauls vehicles for major
             customers  including  GE  Capital,  Nissan,  Ford Motor  Credit and
             General Motors  Acceptance Corp. During 1996 over 100,000 cars were
             transported within the United States by ADESA.

Capital Expenditure Program

         Capital   expenditures   for   automobile   auction  site   relocation,
development and facility  improvements were $41 million during 1996.  Greenfield
projects at  Manville,  New Jersey;  Jacksonville,  Florida;  and  Moncton,  New
Brunswick,   Canada  and  relocation  projects  in  Indianapolis,   Indiana  and
Cincinnati, Ohio began operations in 1996. In February 1997 ADESA consolidated a
small  auction  facility in  Concord,  Massachusetts  with its Boston  facility.
Capital  expenditures  for the  automobile  auction  business are expected to be
$7 million in 1997 and to total approximately $40 million during the period 1998
through 2001. Capital expenditures in 1997 are for on-going improvements and new
information systems at existing automobile auction sites.

                                      -16-

<PAGE>

Competition

         Within the automobile auction industry,  ADESA's  competition  includes
independently  owned  auctions  as well as major  chains and  associations  with
auctions in  geographic  proximity.  ADESA  competes  with other  auctions for a
supply  of  automobiles  to be  sold  on  consignment  for  automobile  dealers,
financial  institutions  and other sellers.  ADESA also competes for a supply of
rental repurchase vehicles from automobile  manufacturers for auction at factory
sales.  The  automobile  manufacturers  often  choose  between  auctions  across
multi-state areas in distributing rental repurchase vehicles. ADESA competes for
these sellers of  automobiles by attempting to attract a large number of dealers
to purchase vehicles,  which ensures  competitive prices and supports the volume
of vehicles  auctioned,  and by  providing  a full range of  services  including
reconditioning  services  which prepare  automobiles  for auction,  transporting
automobiles  and the prompt  processing  of sale  transactions.  Another  factor
affecting  the  industry,  the impact of which is yet to be  determined,  is the
entrance of the "superstore",  large used car dealerships,  that have emerged in
densely populated markets.

         AFC is well positioned as a provider of floorplan financing services to
the used vehicle industry.  AFC's competition  includes other specialty lenders,
as well as banks and other  financial  institutions.  AFC  competes  with  other
floorplan  providers and strives to  distinguish  itself based upon ease of use,
quality  of service  and  price.  A key  component  of AFC's  program is on-site
personnel to assist automobile dealers with their financing needs.

         Auto auction sales for the industry are expected to rise at a rate of 6
percent to 8 percent annually.  With the increased popularity of leasing and the
high  cost of new  cars,  the same  cars may come to  auction  more  than  once.
Automotive  services  expect to  participate in this  industry's  growth through
selective acquisitions and expanded services.

Environmental Matters

         The Company's  automotive services business is subject to regulation by
various federal,  state and local authorities in the areas of air quality, water
quality,  solid wastes, and other environmental  matters.  The Company considers
operations  of  this  business  to  be  in  substantial  compliance  with  those
environmental  regulations  currently  applicable to its operations and believes
all necessary permits to conduct such operations have been obtained. The Company
does not  currently  anticipate  that its  potential  capital  expenditures  for
environmental matters will be material.  However, because environmental laws and
regulations are constantly evolving, the character,  scope and ultimate costs of
environmental compliance cannot be estimated.

                                      -17-

<PAGE>

                                   Investments

         The  investments  segment  is  comprised  of  real  estate  operations,
financial guaranty reinsurance and a portfolio of securities.

         -   Real Estate  Operations.  The Company owns 80 percent of Lehigh,  a
             Florida  real estate  company.  Lehigh owns 4,000 acres of land and
             approximately 8,000 home sites near Fort Myers, Florida, 1,100 home
             sites in Citrus  County,  Florida,  and 3,000 home sites and 13,000
             acres of residential, commercial and industrial land at Palm Coast,
             Florida.  The Palm  Coast  properties  and  $18 million  receivable
             portfolio were purchased in April 1996. The real estate strategy is
             to acquire large residential  community properties at low cost, add
             value, and sell them at going market prices.

         -   Reinsurance.  Minnesota Power has a 21 percent equity investment in
             Capital  Re.  Capital Re  is a  Delaware  holding  company  engaged
             primarily in financial and mortgage  guaranty  reinsurance  through
             its wholly  owned  subsidiaries,  Capital  Reinsurance  Company and
             Capital Mortgage Reinsurance  Company.  Capital Reinsurance Company
             is  a  reinsurer  of   financial   guarantees   of  municipal   and
             non-municipal  debt  obligations.   Capital  Mortgage   Reinsurance
             Company is a reinsurer of residential  mortgage guaranty insurance.
             The Company's equity investment in Capital Re at December 31, 1996,
             was $102 million.

         -   Securities   Portfolio.   Minnesota   Power  manages  a  securities
             portfolio  which is  intended  to  provide  earnings  and cash flow
             contributions   and  is  available  for  reinvestment  in  existing
             businesses,  acquisitions and other corporate purposes. The Company
             plans to continue to concentrate in market neutral  strategies that
             are  designed  to provide  stable and  acceptable  returns  without
             sacrificing needed liquidity. Returns will continue to be partially
             dependent on general market  conditions.  As of December 31,  1996,
             the  Company  had  approximately   $155 million   invested  in  the
             securities portfolio.

Environmental Matters

         Certain businesses  included in the Company's  investments  segment are
subject to regulation by various  federal,  state and local  authorities  in the
areas of air quality,  water  quality,  solid  wastes,  and other  environmental
matters. The Company considers these businesses to be in substantial  compliance
with those environmental  regulations currently applicable to its operations and
believes all necessary  permits to conduct such  operations  have been obtained.
The  Company  does  not  currently   anticipate   that  its  potential   capital
expenditures  for  environmental  matters  will be  material.  However,  because
environmental laws and regulations are constantly evolving, the character, scope
and ultimate costs of environmental compliance cannot be estimated.

                                     -18-
<PAGE>

Executive Officers of the Registrant
                                                                 Initial
Executive Officers                                            Effective Date
- ------------------                                            --------------

Edwin L. Russell, Age 52
     Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer          May 14, 1996
     President and Chief Executive Officer                    January 22, 1996
     President                                                May 9, 1995

Robert D. Edwards, Age 52
     Executive Vice President and President - MP Electric     July 26, 1995
     Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer     March 1, 1993
     Group Vice President - Corporate Services and
         Chief Financial Officer                              January 1, 1991

John A. Cirello, Age 53
     Executive Vice President and President and
         Chief Executive Officer - MP Water Resources         July 24, 1995

James P. Hallett, Age 43
     President and Chief Executive Officer - ADESA            August 21, 1996

John E. Fuller, Age 53
     President and
         Chief Executive Officer - Automotive Finance
         Corporation                                          January 1, 1994

Donnie R. Crandell, Age 53
     Senior Vice President and President - MP Real
         Estate Holdings                                      January 1, 1996
     Senior Vice President - Corporate Development            December 1, 1994
     Retired                                                  February 28, 1994
     Vice President - Corporate Development                   March 1, 1993

David G. Gartzke, Age 53
     Senior Vice President - Finance and Chief Financial
         Officer                                              December 1, 1994
     Vice President - Finance and Chief Financial Officer     March 1, 1993
     Vice President - Finance and Treasurer                   January 1, 1991

Laurence H. Fuller, 48
     Vice President - Corporate Development                   February 10, 1997

Philip R. Halverson, Age 48
     Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary            January 1, 1996
     General Counsel and Corporate Secretary                  March 1, 1993
     General Counsel and Assistant Secretary                  January 23, 1991

James A. Roberts, Age 46
     Vice President - Corporate Relations                     January 1, 1996

Mark A. Schober, Age 41
     Controller                                               March 1, 1993

James K. Vizanko, Age 43
     Treasurer                                                March 1, 1993

                                      -19-

<PAGE>

         All of the executive officers above,  except Mr. Russell,  Mr. Cirello,
Mr. Crandell,  Mr. Hallet,  Mr. John Fuller,  and Mr. Laurence Fuller,  had been
employed  by the  Company for more than five years in  executive  or  management
positions.  Mr.  Russell  was  previously  group vice  president  of J. M. Huber
Corporation,  a $1.5 billion  diversified  manufacturing  and natural  resources
company; Mr. Cirello was president of Metcalf & Eddy Services, Inc. from 1992 to
1995,  responsible for $64 million in water/wastewater  operation services,  and
before that was vice president - Eastern  Region of Chemical  Waste  Management;
Mr. Crandell was director of business development of the Company, vice president
of Topeka and vice president of business  development  for Topeka prior to March
1, 1993;  Mr.  Hallet  was  previously  executive  vice  president  of ADESA and
president  of ADESA's  Canadian  operations;  Mr.  John  Fuller  was  previously
president and 50 percent owner of CITA, Inc., which he founded in 1987 (CITA was
renamed  Automotive  Finance  Corporation  in  December  1993  and sold to ADESA
Corporation in January 1994); and Mr. Laurence Fuller was previously senior vice
president,  new business  development  and strategic  planning,  for Diners Club
International, a subsidiary of CitiCorp, Inc. Prior to election to the positions
shown above,  the following  executive  officers held other  positions  with the
Company after January 1, 1992: Mr.  Roberts was director of corporate  relations
and director of  governmental  relations;  Mr.  Schober was director of internal
audit; and Mr. Vizanko was director of investments and analysis,  and manager of
financial planning and analysis.  There are no family relationships  between any
executive  officers of the Company.  All officers and  directors  are elected or
appointed annually.

         The present term of office of the above executive  officers  extends to
the first  meeting of the  Company's  Board of  Directors  after the next annual
meeting of shareholders. Both meetings are scheduled for May 13, 1997.

                                      -20-

<PAGE>

Item 2. Properties.

Electric Operations

         The Company had an annual and all-time record net peak load of 1,462 MW
on November 12,  1996.  The  Company's  average 1996 load factor was 87 percent.
Information with respect to existing power supply sources is shown below.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                                   Unit        Year         Net Winter           Net Electric
     Power Supply                                  No.       Installed      Capability           Requirements
     ------------                                  ---       ---------      ----------           ------------  
                                                                               (MW)            (MWh)        (%)
     <S>                                           <C>       <C>            <C>               <C>          <C>  
     Steam
       Coal-Fired
           Boswell Energy Center
              near Grand Rapids, MN                  1          1958             69
                                                     2          1960             69
                                                     3          1973            350
                                                     4          1980            428
                                                                              -----
                                                                                916           5,980,330    43.1%
                                                                              -----
           Laskin Energy Center
              Hoyt Lakes, MN                         1          1953             55
                                                     2          1953             55
                                                                              -----   
                                                                                110             418,261     3.0
                                                                              -----  
       Coal-Wood Chip Fired
           M. L. Hibbard
              Duluth, MN                             3          1949             33                  28       -
                                                                              -----          ----------   ----- 
                      Total Steam                                             1,059           6,398,619    46.1
                                                                              -----          ----------   -----
     Hydro
       Group consisting of ten stations in MN                  Various          121             687,537     5.0
                                                                              -----          ----------   ----- 
     Purchased Power
       Square Butte burns lignite in Center, ND                                 333           2,392,514    17.2
       All other - net                                                            -           4,393,680    31.7
                                                                              -----          ----------   -----
                      Total Purchased Power                                     333           6,786,194    48.9
                                                                              -----          ----------   -----
     For the Year Ended December 31, 1996                                     1,513          13,872,350   100.0%
                                                                              =====          ==========   =====
</TABLE>

         The Company has electric  transmission  and  distribution  lines of 500
kilovolts (kV) (7.8 miles),  230 kV (606.4 miles),  161 kV (42.9 miles),  138 kV
(5.8 miles),  115 kV (1,257.3 miles) and less than 115 kV (6,114.1  miles).  The
Company  owns and  operates  178  substations  with a total  capacity of 8,539.2
megavoltamperes.  Some of the transmission and distribution  lines  interconnect
with other utilities.

         The  Company  owns and has a  substantial  investment  in  offices  and
service buildings,  area headquarters,  an energy control center,  repair shops,
motor  vehicles,   construction   equipment  and  tools,  office  furniture  and
equipment,  and leases offices and storerooms in various  localities  within the
Company's service territory.  It also owns miscellaneous  parcels of real estate
not presently used in electric operations.

         Substantially  all of the  electric  plant of the Company is subject to
the lien of its Mortgage and Deed of Trust which  secures first  mortgage  bonds
issued by the Company.  The Company's  properties  are held by it in fee and are
free from other encumbrances,  subject to minor exceptions, none of which are of
such a nature as to  substantially  impair the usefulness to the Company of such
properties. Other property, including certain offices and equipment, is utilized
under  leases.  In general,  some of the electric  lines are located on land not
owned in fee,  but are covered by  necessary  consents  of various  governmental
authorities or by appropriate  rights obtained from owners of private  property.
These  consents  and rights are deemed  adequate  for the purposes for which the
properties  are being used.  In  September  1990 the  Company  sold a portion of
Boswell  Unit 4 to WPPI.  WPPI has the right to use the  Company's  transmission
line facilities to transport its share of generation.

                                      -21-
<PAGE>

         Substantially  all of the plant of SWL&P is  subject to the lien of its
Mortgage and Deed of Trust which secures first  mortgage  bonds issued by SWL&P.
Approximately one-half of BNI Coal's equipment is leased under a leveraged lease
agreement which expires in 2002. The remaining  property and equipment are owned
by BNI Coal.

         The Company is a member of the  Mid-Continent  Area Power Pool  (MAPP).
The MAPP enhances electric service reliability, and provides the opportunity for
members  to enter into  various  wholesale  power  transactions  and  coordinate
planning,   installation  and  operation  of  new  generation  and  transmission
facilities.  The MAPP  membership  consists of various  electric power suppliers
located  in  North  Dakota,  South  Dakota,  eastern  Montana,  Nebraska,  Iowa,
Minnesota,  Wisconsin,  upper Michigan,  Kansas,  Manitoba and  Saskatchewan and
marketers and brokers  located  throughout  North  America.  The electric  power
suppliers are  investor-owned  utilities  including the Company,  rural electric
generation and  transmission  cooperatives,  public power  districts,  municipal
electric  systems,   municipal   organizations,   and  the  Western  Area  Power
Administration - Billings,  Montana. MAPP operates pursuant to an agreement that
was approved by MAPP members on March 15, 1996,  accepted by the FERC and became
effective on November 1, 1996.

Water Services

         Florida  Water  is  largest   investor  owned  provider  of  water  and
wastewater  services in Florida,  serving more than 170,000  customers  over 120
communities.  Florida  Water  maintains  more  than  150  water  and  wastewater
facilities  throughout  the state with plants ranging in size from 6 connections
to greater than 25,000  connections.  Florida Water  provides its customers with
12 billion  gallons  of water  per year  primarily  from  Florida's  underground
aquifer.  Substantially all of Florida Water's  properties used in its water and
wastewater operations are encumbered by a mortgage.

         Heater  has  water  and  wastewater  systems  located  in  subdivisions
surrounding Raleigh, North Carolina,  Fayetteville, North Carolina and Anderson,
South  Carolina.  Water  supply is  primarily  from  ground  water  deep  wells.
Community  ground  water  systems  vary in size  from 25  connections  to  6,000
connections.   Some  systems  are  supplied  by  purchased  water.   Heater  has
approximately  180 systems and 375 wells serving 22,000  customers.  Heater also
has six wastewater treatment plants, ranging in size from 35,000 gallons per day
(gpd) to 250,000 gpd, and 17 lift stations located in its wastewater  collection
systems. These systems serve approximately 1,000 customers. Substantially all of
Heater's  properties used in its water and wastewater  operations are encumbered
by a mortgage.

Investments

         Property within the Company's real estate operations  consists of 4,000
acres of land and approximately 8,000 home sites near Fort Myers, Florida; 1,110
home sites in Citrus County, Florida; and 3,000 home sites and 13,000 acres of
residential, industrial and commercial land at Palm Coast, Florida.

                                      -22-


<PAGE>

Automotive Services

     The following table sets forth the auto auctions  currently owned or leased
by ADESA. Each auction has a multi-lane, drive-through auction facility, as well
as additional buildings for reconditioning, registration, maintenance, body work
and other ancillary and  administrative  services.  Each auction also has secure
parking areas in which it stores  vehicles for auction.  All automobile  auction
property owned by ADESA is subject to liens securing various notes payable.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                      Year               No.
                                                                                   Operations          Auction
ADESA Auctions                            Location                                  Commenced           Lanes
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                       <C>                                      <C>                 <C>   
United States
    ADESA Birmingham                      Moody, Alabama                              1987               10
    ADESA Sarasota/Bradenton              Bradenton, Florida                          1990                6
    ADESA Jacksonville                    Jacksonville, Florida                       1996                6
    ADESA South Florida <F1><F2>          Opa-Locka, Florida (near Miami)             1994                7
    ADESA Indianapolis                    Plainfield, Indiana                         1983               10
    ADESA Lexington                       Lexington, Kentucky                         1982                6
    ADESA Boston <F2>                     Framingham, Massachusetts                   1995               11
    ADESA New Jersey                      Manville, New Jersey                        1996                8
    ADESA Buffalo                         Akron, New York                             1992               10
    ADESA Charlotte <F2>                  Charlotte, North Carolina                   1994                8
    ADESA Cincinnati-Dayton               Franklin, Ohio                              1986                8
    ADESA Cleveland <F2>                  Northfield, Ohio                            1994                8
    ADESA Pittsburgh                      Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania                    1971                7
    ADESA Knoxville <F2>                  Lenoir City, Tennessee                      1984                6
    ADESA Memphis                         Memphis, Tennessee                          1990                6
    ADESA Austin <F2>                     Austin, Texas                               1990                6
    ADESA Dallas                          Dallas, Texas                               1990                6
    ADESA Houston                         Houston, Texas                              1995                3
    ADESA San Antonio                     San Antonio, Texas                          1989                5
    ADESA Wisconsin                       Portage, Wisconsin                          1984                5

Canada
    ADESA Moncton <F2>                    Moncton, New Brunswick                      1996                2
    ADESA Halifax <F2>                    Lr. Sackville, Nova Scotia                  1993                2
    ADESA Ottawa                          Vars, Ontario                               1990                5
    ADESA Montreal                        St. Eustache, Quebec                        1974                8
 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<FN>
<F1>   ADESA Corporation owns 51 percent of this auction facility.
<F2>   Leased auction facilities.(See Note 12.)
</FN>
</TABLE>

Item 3. Legal Proceedings.

     Material legal and regulatory proceedings are included in the discussion of
the Company's business in Item 1 and are incorporated by reference herein.


Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

     No matters were  submitted to a vote of security  holders during the fourth
quarter of 1996.

                                      -23-

<PAGE>

                                     PART II

Item 5.  Market  for the  Registrant's  Common  Equity and  Related  Stockholder
Matters.

         The Company has paid dividends without interruption on its common stock
since 1948. A quarterly  dividend of $.51 per share on the common stock was paid
on March 1, 1997,  to the holders of record on February 14, 1997.  The Company's
common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.  Dividends paid per share
and the high and low  prices  for the  Company's  common  stock for the  periods
indicated  as reported  by The Wall Street  Journal,  Midwest  Edition,  were as
follows:

                                                              Dividends
                                  Price Range              Paid Per Share
                                  -----------              --------------
         Quarter               High        Low           Quarterly     Annual
         -------               ----        ---           ---------     ------  

   1996  -   First          $ 29 3/4     $ 26 1/8         $ .51
         -   Second           29           26               .51
         -   Third            28 3/4       26               .51
         -   Fourth           28 7/8       26 3/8           .51         $2.04

   1995  -   First          $ 26 3/8     $ 24 1/4         $ .51
         -   Second           28           25 1/4           .51
         -   Third            28 1/8       26 3/8           .51
         -   Fourth           29 1/4       27 1/2           .51         $2.04

         The amount  and timing of  dividends  payable on the  Company's  common
stock are within the sole  discretion  of the Company's  Board of Directors.  In
1996 the Company  paid out 90 percent of its per share  earnings  in  dividends.
Over the longer term, the Company's goal is to reduce dividend payout to between
75  percent  and 80  percent  of per  share  earnings.  This is  expected  to be
accomplished by increasing earnings rather than reducing dividends.

         The Company's  Articles of Incorporation and Mortgage and Deed of Trust
contain provisions which under certain  circumstances would restrict the payment
of common stock  dividends.  As of December 31, 1996, no retained  earnings were
restricted  as a result  of these  provisions.  At March  1,  1997,  there  were
approximately 24,000 common stock shareholders of record.

                                      -24-

<PAGE>

Item 6. Selected Financial Data.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                               1996           1995            1994           1993           1992
                                            ---------       ---------      ---------      ---------       ---------   
                                                              In thousands except per share amounts
<S>                                         <C>             <C>            <C>            <C>             <C> 
Operating Revenue and Income                $ 846,928       $ 672,917      $ 582,169      $ 582,495       $ 575,503

Income (Loss)
   Continuing Operations                     $ 69,221        $ 61,857       $ 59,465        $64,374        $ 67,821
   Discontinued Operations                          -           2,848          1,868         (1,753)            636
                                            ---------       ---------      ---------      ---------       ---------
   Before Extraordinary Item                   69,221          64,705         61,333         62,621          68,457
   Extraordinary Gain                               -               -              -              -           4,831
                                            ---------       ---------      ---------      ---------       ---------
     Net Income                              $ 69,221        $ 64,705       $ 61,333        $62,621        $ 73,288
                                            =========       =========      =========      =========       ========= 
Earnings Per Share
   Continuing Operations                        $2.28           $2.06          $1.99          $2.27           $2.29
   Discontinued Operations                          -             .10            .07           (.07)            .02
                                                -----           -----          -----          -----           -----
   Before Extraordinary Item                     2.28            2.16           2.06           2.20            2.31
   Extraordinary Item                               -               -              -              -            0.16
                                                -----           -----          -----          -----           -----
     Total                                      $2.28<F1>       $2.16<F2>      $2.06<F3>      $2.20<F4>       $2.47<F5>
                                                =====           =====          =====          =====           =====  

Dividends Per Share                             $2.04           $2.04          $2.02          $1.98           $1.94

Total Assets                               $2,146,049      $1,947,625     $1,807,798     $1,760,526      $1,625,504

Long-Term Debt                              $ 694,423       $ 639,548      $ 601,317      $ 611,144       $ 541,960
Redeemable Preferred Stock                   $ 20,000        $ 20,000       $ 20,000        $20,000        $ 21,000
Cumulative Quarterly Income
   Preferred Securities                      $ 75,000               -              -              -               -
                           
- ---------------------------
<FN>
<F1>  Includes  22  cents  per  share  from  the  recognition  of  tax  benefits
      associated with real estate operations.

<F2>  Includes  52  cents  per  share  from  the  recognition  of  tax  benefits
      associated  with real estate  operations and a 14 cent per share reduction
      associated with exiting the equipment manufacturing business.

<F3>  Includes 42 cents per share from the sale of certain  water plant  assets,
      13 cents per share from the  recognition of escrow funds  associated  with
      real estate operations, a 21 cent per share decrease from the write-off of
      an  investment   and  an  11  cent  per  share  loss  from  the  equipment
      manufacturing business.

<F4>  Includes  a 6 cent per  share  increase  as a result  of the  adoption  of
      Statement of Position No. 93-6  "Employers'  Accounting for Employee Stock
      Ownership  Plans,"  issued by the American  Institute of Certified  Public
      Accountants.

<F5>  Includes  an  extraordinary  gain of 16 cents  per  share  from the  early
      extinguishment of debt.
</FN>
</TABLE>

Item 7. Management's  Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
of Operations.

         The  management's  discussion  and analysis of financial  condition and
results of operations  appearing on pages 13 through 22 of the  Minnesota  Power
1996  Annual  Report are  incorporated  by  reference  in this Form 10-K  Annual
Report.


Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

         The financial  statements,  together  with the report  thereon of Price
Waterhouse LLP dated January 27,  1997,  appearing on pages 23 through 40 of the
Minnesota Power 1996 Annual Report,  are  incorporated by reference in this Form
10-K Annual Report.


Item  9.  Changes  in and  Disagreements  with  Accountants  on  Accounting  and
Financial Disclosure.

         Not applicable.

                                      -25-
                                                         

<PAGE>

                                    PART III

Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant.

         The  information  required for this Item is  incorporated  by reference
herein from the "Election of Directors" section in the Company's Proxy Statement
for the 1997 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, except for information with respect
to executive officers which is set forth in Part I hereof.

Item 11. Executive Compensation.

         The  information  required for this Item is  incorporated  by reference
herein from the  "Compensation of Executive  Officers"  section in the Company's
Proxy Statement for the 1997 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management.

         The  information  required for this Item is  incorporated  by reference
herein from the "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management"
section  in the  Company's  Proxy  Statement  for the  1997  Annual  Meeting  of
Shareholders.

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.

         The  information  required for this Item is  incorporated  by reference
herein from the "Certain  Relationships and Related Transactions" section in the
Company's Proxy Statement for the 1997 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

                                      -26-


<PAGE>

                                     PART IV

Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K.

(a)  Certain Documents Filed as Part of Form 10-K.

     (1)  Financial Statements

                                                                  Pages in
                                                               Annual Report*
                                                               --------------
             Minnesota Power
             Report of Independent Accountants                       23
             Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 1996
               and 1995                                              24
             For the three years ended December 31, 1996
                 Consolidated Statement of Income                    25
                 Consolidated Statement of Retained Earnings         25
                 Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows                26
                 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements        27-40
- ------------------                         
*  Incorporated  by reference  herein from the Minnesota  Power 1996 Annual
   Report.



                                                                    Page
                                                                    ----
     (2)  Financial Statement Schedules
             Report of Independent Accountants on Financial
               Statement Schedule                                    32
             Minnesota Power and Subsidiaries Schedule:
                 II-Valuation and Qualifying Accounts and
                   Reserves                                          33

         All other schedules have been omitted either because the information is
not  required  to be  reported  by the  Company or because  the  information  is
included in the consolidated financial statements or the notes thereto.


     (3)  Exhibits including those incorporated by reference


Exhibit
Number
- -------

     *2  -    Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among  Minnesota Power & Light
              Company, AC  Acquisition  Sub,  Inc.,  ADESA  Corporation  and
              Certain  ADESA  Management Shareholders dated February 23, 1995
              (filed as Exhibit 2 to Form 8-K dated March 3, 1995, File 
              No. 1-3548).

 *3(a)1  -    Articles of Incorporation, restated as of July 27, 1988 (filed as
              Exhibit 3(a), File No. 33-24936).

 *3(a)2  -    Certificate  Fixing  Terms of Serial  Preferred  Stock A, $7.125 
              Series  (filed as Exhibit  3(a)2,  File No. 33-50143).

 *3(a)3  -    Certificate  Fixing  Terms of Serial  Preferred  Stock A,  $6.70 
              Series  (filed as Exhibit  3(a)3,  File No. 33-50143).

  *3(b)  -    Bylaws as amended January 23, 1991 (filed as Exhibit 3(b), File 
              No. 33-45549).

                                      -27-
<PAGE>

Exhibit
Number
- -------

 *4(a)1  -    Mortgage and Deed of Trust, dated as of September 1, 1945, between
              the Company and Irving  Trust  Company  (now The Bank of New York)
              and Richard H. West (W.T. Cunningham,  successor), Trustees (filed
              as Exhibit 7(c), File No. 2-5865).

 *4(a)2  -    Supplemental Indentures to Mortgage and Deed of Trust:

                                                          Reference
              Number             Dated as of                File        Exhibit
              ------             -----------              ---------     -------
 
              First              March 1, 1949             2-7826         7(b)
              Second             July 1, 1951              2-9036         7(c)
              Third              March 1, 1957             2-13075        2(c)
              Fourth             January 1, 1968           2-27794        2(c)
              Fifth              April 1, 1971             2-39537        2(c)
              Sixth              August 1, 1975            2-54116        2(c)
              Seventh            September 1, 1976         2-57014        2(c)
              Eighth             September 1, 1977         2-59690        2(c)
              Ninth              April 1, 1978             2-60866        2(c)
              Tenth              August 1, 1978            2-62852        2(d)2
              Eleventh           December 1, 1982          2-56649        4(a)3
              Twelfth            April 1, 1987             33-30224       4(a)3
              Thirteenth         March 1, 1992             33-47438       4(b)
              Fourteenth         June 1, 1992              33-55240       4(b)
              Fifteenth          July 1, 1992              33-55240       4(c)
              Sixteenth          July 1, 1992              33-55240       4(d)
              Seventeenth        February 1, 1993          33-50143       4(b)
              Eighteenth         July 1, 1993              33-50143       4(c)
 
  4(a)3  -    Nineteenth  Supplemental  Indenture,  dated as of February  1, 
              1997,  between  the  Company  and The Bank of New  York  (formerly
              Irving Trust Company) and W.T. Cunningham (successor to Richard H.
              West), Trustees.

  *4(b)  -    Mortgage and Deed of Trust,  dated as of March 1, 1943,  between 
              Superior Water,  Light and Power Company and Chemical Bank & Trust
              Company and Howard B. Smith, as Trustees,  both succeeded by First
              Bank N.A., as Trustee (filed as Exhibit 7(c), File No. 2-8668), as
              supplemented and modified by First Supplemental  Indenture thereto
              dated as of March 1, 1951  (filed  as  Exhibit  2(d)(1),  File No.
              2-59690),  Second Supplemental Indenture thereto dated as of March
              1,  1962  (filed  as  Exhibit  2(d)1,  File  No.  2-27794),  Third
              Supplemental  Indenture  thereto  dated  July 1,  1976  (filed  as
              Exhibit 2(e)1, File No. 2-57478),  Fourth  Supplemental  Indenture
              thereto dated as of March 1, 1985 (filed as Exhibit 4(b), File No.
              2-78641)  and Fifth  Supplemental  Indenture  thereto  dated as of
              December 1, 1992 (filed as Exhibit 4(b)1 to Form 10-K for the year
              ended December 31, 1992, File No. 1-3548).

  4(b)1  -    Sixth  Supplemental  Indenture,  dated as of March 24, 1994,  
              between Superior Water,  Light and Power Company and Chemical Bank
              (formerly   Chemical  Bank  &  Trust   Company)  and  Peter  Morse
              (successor to Howard B. Smith), Trustees.
 
  4(b)2  -    Seventh  Supplemental  Indenture,  dated as of  November 1, 1994,
              between Superior Water,  Light and Power Company and Chemical Bank
              (formerly   Chemical  Bank  &  Trust   Company)  and  Peter  Morse
              (successor to Howard B. Smith), Trustees.

  4(b)3  -    Eighth Supplemental  Indenture,  dated as of January 1, 1997, 
              between  Superior  Water,  Light and Power  Company and First Bank
              N.A. Trustee.

                                      -28-

<PAGE>

Exhibit
Number
- -------

  *4(c)  -    Indenture,  dated as of March 1, 1993,  between Southern States  
              Utilities,  Inc.  (now Florida  Water  Services  Corporation)  and
              Nationsbank of Georgia,  National  Association (now SunTrust Bank,
              Central Florida,  N.A.), as Trustee (filed as Exhibit 4(d) to Form
              10-K for the year ended December 31, 1992, File No. 1-3548).

  4(c)1  -    First  Supplemental  Indenture,  dated as of March 1, 1993,  
              between  Southern  States  Utilities,   Inc.  (now  Florida  Water
              Services   Corporation)  and  Nationsbank  of  Georgia,   National
              Association  (now  SunTrust  Bank,  Central  Florida,   N.A.),  as
              Trustee.

  *4(d)  -    Amended  and  Restated  Trust  Agreement,  dated as of March 1,  
              1996,  relating  to MP&L  Capital I's 8.05%  Cumulative  Quarterly
              Income Preferred  Securities,  between the Company,  as Depositor,
              and The Bank of New York, The Bank of New York (Delaware),  Philip
              R. Halverson,  David G. Gartzke and James K. Vizanko,  as Trustees
              (filed as Exhibit  4(a) to Form 10-Q for the  quarter  ended March
              31, 1996, File No. 1-3548).

  *4(e)  -    Amendment No. 1, dated April 11, 1996, to Amended and Restated  
              Trust  Agreement,  dated  as of March 1,  1996,  relating  to MP&L
              Capital I's 8.05% Cumulative Quarterly Income Preferred Securities
              (filed as Exhibit  4(b) to Form 10-Q for the  quarter  ended March
              31, 1996, File No. 1-3548).

  *4(f)  -    Indenture, dated as of March 1, 1996, relating to the Company's 
              8.05% Junior Subordinated Debentures,  Series A, Due 2015, between
              the Company and The Bank of New York, as Trustee (filed as Exhibit
              4(c) to Form 10-Q for the quarter  ended March 31, 1996,  File No.
              1-3548).

  *4(g)  -    Guarantee  Agreement,  dated as of March 1, 1996, relating to MP&L
              Capital   I's  8.05%   Cumulative   Quarterly   Income   Preferred
              Securities, between the Company, as Guarantor, and The Bank of New
              York,  as  Trustee  (filed  as  Exhibit  4(d) to Form 10-Q for the
              quarter ended March 31, 1996, File No. 1-3548).

  *4(h)  -    Agreement as to Expenses  and  Liabilities,  dated as of March 20,
              1996,  relating  to MP&L  Capital I's 8.05%  Cumulative  Quarterly
              Income Preferred Securities,  between the Company and MP&L Capital
              I (filed as Exhibit 4(e) to Form 10-Q for the quarter  ended March
              31, 1996, File No. 1-3548).

   4(i)  -    Officer's  Certificate,  dated  March 20,  1996,  establishing 
              the terms of the 8.05% Junior Subordinated  Debentures,  Series A,
              Due 2015 issued in connection with the 8.05% Cumulative  Quarterly
              Income Preferred Securities of MP&L Capital I.

  *4(j)  -    Rights  Agreement  dated as of July 24,  1996,  between  Minnesota
              Power & Light  Company and the  Corporate  Secretary  of Minnesota
              Power & Light Company, as Rights Agent (filed as Exhibit 4 to Form
              8-K dated August 2, 1996, File No. 1-3548).

   4(k)  -    Indenture,  dated as of May 15, 1996,  relating to the ADESA  
              Corporation's  7.70%  Senior  Notes,  Series A, Due 2006,  between
              ADESA Corporation and The Bank of New York, as Trustee.

   4(l)  -    Guarantee of Minnesota Power & Light Company,  dated as of May 30,
              1996,  relating to the ADESA  Corporation's  7.70%  Senior  Notes,
              Series A, Due 2006.

   4(m)  -    ADESA Corporation  Officer's Certificate 1-D-1, dated May 30, 
              1996,  relating to the ADESA  Corporation's  7.70%  Senior  Notes,
              Series A, Due 2006.


                                      -29-

<PAGE>

Exhibit
Number
- -------

 *10(a)  -    Asset  Holdings III, L.P. Note Purchase  Agreement,  dated as of
              November  22,  1994  (filed as Exhibit  10(i) to Form 10-K for the
              year ended December 31, 1995, File No. 1-3548).

 *10(b)  -    Lease and  Development  Agreement,  dated as of November 28, 1994
              between  Asset  Holdings  III,  L.P.,  as  Lessor  and  A.D.E.  of
              Knoxville,  Inc.,  as Lessee  (filed as Exhibit 10(j) to Form 10-K
              for the year ended December 31, 1995, File No. 1-3548).

 *10(c)  -    Lease and  Development  Agreement,  dated as of November 28, 1994 
              between Asset Holdings III,  L.P., as Lessor and  ADESA-Charlotte,
              Inc.,  as Lessee (filed as Exhibit 10(k) to Form 10-K for the year
              ended December 31, 1995, File No. 1-3548).

 *10(d)  -    Lease and  Development  Agreement,  dated as of December 21, 1994
              between  Asset  Holdings  III,  L.P.,  as Lessor and Auto  Dealers
              Exchange of Concord,  Inc.,  as Lessee  (filed as Exhibit 10(l) to
              Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995, File No. 1-3548).

 *10(e)  -    Guaranty and Purchase Option Agreement between Asset Holdings III,
              L.P. and ADESA  Corporation,  dated as of November 28, 1994 (filed
              as  Exhibit  10(m) to Form 10-K for the year  ended  December  31,
              1995, File No. 1-3548).

  10(f)  -    Receivables  Purchase  Agreement  dated as of December 31, 1996,  
              among AFC  Funding  Corporation,  as  Seller,  Automotive  Finance
              Corporation,  as  Servicer,  Pooled  Accounts  Receivable  Capital
              Corporation,  as Purchaser,  and Nesbitt Burns Securities Inc., as
              Agent.

  10(g)  -    First  Amendment  to  Receivables  Purchase  Agreement,  dated as 
              of February 28, 1997,  among AFC Funding  Corporation,  as Seller,
              Automotive  Finance  Corporation,  as  Servicer,  Pooled  Accounts
              Receivable Capital  Corporation,  as Purchaser,  and Nesbitt Burns
              Securities Inc., as Agent.

  10(h)  -    Purchase and Sale Agreement  dated as of December 31, 1996,  
              between   AFC   Funding   Corporation   and   Automotive   Finance
              Corporation.

+*10(i)  -    Minnesota Power Executive Annual Incentive Plan,  effective  
              January 1, 1996 (filed as Exhibit 10(a) to Form 10-K for the year
              ended December 31, 1995, File No. 1-3548).

+*10(j)  -    Minnesota Power and Affiliated  Companies  Supplemental  Executive
              Retirement Plan, as amended and restated, effective August 1, 1994
              (filed as Exhibit  10(b) to Form 10-K for the year ended  December
              31, 1995, File No. 1-3548).

+*10(k)  -    Executive  Investment Plan-I, as amended and restated,  effective 
              November 1, 1988 (filed as Exhibit 10(c) to Form 10-K for the year
              ended December 31, 1988, File No. 1-3548).

+*10(l)  -    Executive Investment Plan-II, as amended and restated,  effective 
              November 1, 1988 (filed as Exhibit 10(d) to Form 10-K for the year
              ended December 31, 1988, File No. 1-3548).

+*10(m)  -    Deferred Compensation Trust Agreement,  as amended and restated,  
              effective January 1, 1989 (filed as Exhibit 10(f) to Form 10-K for
              the year ended December 31, 1988, File No. 1-3548).

+*10(n)  -    Executive  Long-Term  Incentive  Plan, as amended and restated,  
              effective January 1, 1994 (filed as Exhibit 10(e) to Form 10-K for
              the year ended December 31, 1994, File No. 1-3548).

+*10(o)  -    Minnesota Power Executive Long-Term Incentive  Compensation Plan,
              effective January 1, 1996 (filed as Exhibit 10(a) to Form 10-Q for
              the quarter ended June 30, 1996, File No. 1-3548).

                                      -30-

<PAGE>

Exhibit
Number
- -------

+*10(p)  -    Directors'  Long-Term  Incentive Plan, as amended and restated,  
              effective January 1, 1994 (filed as Exhibit 10(f) to Form 10-K for
              the year ended December 31, 1994, File No. 1-3548).

+*10(q)  -    Minnesota  Power  Director  Stock Plan,  effective  January 1, 
              1995 (filed as Exhibit 10 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March
              31, 1995, File No. 1-3548).

+*10(r)  -    Minnesota Power Director  Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan,  
              effective January 1, 1996 (filed as Exhibit 10(b) to Form 10-Q for
              the quarter ended June 30, 1996, File No. 1-3548).

     12  -    Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges and 
              Supplemental Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges.

     13  -    Minnesota Power 1996 Annual Report - Management's  Discussion and 
              Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, and the
              Company's  financial  statements  listed in Item 14 (a)(1) of this
              report.

    *21  -    Subsidiaries of the Registrant (reference is made to the Company's
              Form U-3A-2 for the year ended December 31, 1996, File No. 69-78).

  23(a)  -    Consent of Independent Accountants.

  23(b)  -    Consent of General Counsel.

    *27  -    Financial Data Schedule (filed as Exhibit 27 to Form 8-K dated 
              March 19, 1997, File No. 1-3548).

- --------------------------
*    Incorporated herein by reference as indicated.
+    Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement  required to be 
     filed as an exhibit to this report pursuant to Item 14(c) of Form 10-K.


(b)  Reports on Form 8-K.

     Report on Form 8-K dated and filed on March 19, 1997, with respect to Item 
     7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.


                                      -31-

<PAGE>



                        Report of Independent Accountants
                         on Financial Statement Schedule


To the Board of Directors
   of Minnesota Power

         Our audits of the consolidated  financial statements referred to in our
report dated January 27, 1997  appearing on page 23 of the 1996 Annual Report to
Shareholders  of  Minnesota  Power  (which  report  and  consolidated  financial
statements  are  incorporated  by reference in this Annual  Report on Form 10-K)
also included an audit of the Financial  Statement Schedule listed in Item 14(a)
of this Form 10-K. In our opinion,  the Financial  Statement  Schedule  presents
fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein when read in
conjunction with the related consolidated financial statements.

Price Waterhouse LLP

PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP
Minneapolis, Minnesota
January 27, 1997

                                      -32-

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
                                                                                                         Schedule II


                                                      Minnesota Power and Subsidiaries

                                                Valuation and Qualifying Accounts and Reserves
                                             For the Years Ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994
                                                                  In thousands
<CAPTION>
 
                                                                   Additions                   
                                            Balance at      -----------------------       Deductions        Balance at
                                            Beginning        Charged         Other           from             End of
                                             of Year        to Income       Changes        Reserves <F1>      Period
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                        <C>             <C>             <C>            <C>               <C>
Reserve deducted from related assets
   Provision for uncollectible accounts
    1996 Trade accounts receivable          $  3,325       $  4,697        $ 1,443          $  2,897         $ 6,568
         Other accounts receivable             1,152            188            180                42           1,478
    1995 Trade accounts receivable             1,041          3,004          1,453             2,173           3,325
         Other accounts receivable             2,773            186              -             1,807           1,152
    1994 Trade accounts receivable             1,565            722            116             1,362           1,041
         Other accounts receivable             1,135          1,845              -               207           2,773
  Deferred asset valuation allowance
    1996 Deferred tax assets <F2>              8,943         (8,200)             -                 -             743
    1995 Deferred tax assets <F2>             26,878        (17,935)             -                 -           8,943
    1994 Deferred tax assets                  31,475              -         (4,597)                -          26,878
                           
- ---------------------------------
<FN>
<F1>  Provision for uncollectible accounts includes bad debts written off.
<F2>  The deferred tax asset  valuation  allowance  was reduced by $18.4 million 
      in 1995 and $8.2 million in 1996 based on a detailed analysis of the 
      projected future taxable income based on a new business strategy for real
      estate operations. (See Note 14.)
</FN>
</TABLE>

                                      -33-

<PAGE>
                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the  requirements  of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.





                                             MINNESOTA POWER & LIGHT COMPANY
                                                      (Registrant)


Dated:   March 28, 1997                 By         EDWIN L. RUSSELL   
                                           -----------------------------------
                                                   Edwin L. Russell
                                                 Chairman, President and
                                                 Chief Executive Officer




         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
this  report has been  signed  below by the  following  persons on behalf of the
registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.



      Signature                        Title                      Date
      ---------                        -----                      ----



    EDWIN L. RUSSELL           Chairman, President,          March 28, 1997
- ------------------------
    Edwin L. Russell          Chief Executive Officer
                                   and Director



      D.G. GARTZKE            Senior Vice President-         March 28, 1997
- ------------------------
      D.G. Gartzke                  Finance and
                              Chief Financial Officer



     MARK A. SCHOBER                Controller               March 28, 1997
- ------------------------
     Mark A. Schober


                                       -34-
<PAGE>

     Signature                      Title                        Date
     ---------                      -----                        ----



  MERRILL K. CRAGUN               Director                  March 28, 1997
- ------------------------
  Merrill K. Cragun

  DENNIS E. EVANS                 Director                  March 28, 1997
- ------------------------
  Dennis E. Evans

  PETER J. JOHNSON                Director                  March 28, 1997
- ------------------------
  Peter J. Johnson

 GEORGE L. MAYER                  Director                  March 28, 1997
- ------------------------
 George L. Mayer

 PAULA F. MCQUEEN                 Director                  March 28, 1997
- ------------------------
 Paula F. McQueen

ROBERT S. NICKOLOFF               Director                  March 28, 1997
- ------------------------
Robert S. Nickoloff

  JACK I. RAJALA                  Director                  March 28, 1997
- ------------------------
  Jack I. Rajala

AREND J. SANDBULTE                Director                  March 28, 1997
- ------------------------
Arend J. Sandbulte

    NICK SMITH                    Director                  March 28, 1997
- ------------------------
    Nick Smith

BRUCE W. STENDER                  Director                  March 28, 1997
- ------------------------
Bruce W. Stender

DONALD C. WEGMILLER               Director                  March 28, 1997
- ------------------------
Donald C. Wegmiller


                                      -35-




</TEXT>

</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-4.A.3
<SEQUENCE>2
<DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 4(A)3
<TEXT>

<PAGE>
                                                                 Exhibit 4(a)3
<PAGE>

     ---------------------------------------------------------------------

                         MINNESOTA POWER & LIGHT COMPANY


                                       TO


                              THE BANK OF NEW YORK
                         (formerly Irving Trust Company)

                                       AND

                                 W.T. CUNNINGHAM

                   (successor to Richard H. West, J.A. Austin,
                     E.J. McCabe, D.W. May and J.A. Vaughan)

                                       As Trustees under Minnesota Power &
                                       Light Company's Mortgage and Deed of
                                       Trust dated as of September 1, 1945

                            -------------------------

                        Nineteenth Supplemental Indenture

                        Providing among other things for

              First Mortgage Bonds, 7% Series Due February 15, 2007

                              (Twenty-fifth Series)


                          Dated as of February 1, 1997

     ---------------------------------------------------------------------


<PAGE>


                        NINETEENTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

         THIS INDENTURE,  dated as of February 1, 1997, by and between MINNESOTA
POWER & LIGHT  COMPANY,  a  corporation  of the State of  Minnesota,  whose post
office address is 30 West Superior Street, Duluth,  Minnesota 55802 (hereinafter
sometimes called the "Company"), and THE BANK OF NEW YORK (formerly Irving Trust
Company),  a corporation of the State of New York,  whose post office address is
101 Barclay Street, New York, New York 10286  (hereinafter  sometimes called the
"Corporate Trustee"),  and W. T. CUNNINGHAM (successor to Richard H. West, J. A.
Austin, E. J. McCabe, D. W. May and J. A. Vaughan), whose post office address is
3 Arlington  Drive,  Denville,  New Jersey  07834 (said W. T.  Cunningham  being
hereinafter  sometimes called the "Co-Trustee" and the Corporate Trustee and the
Co-Trustee being  hereinafter  together  sometimes  called the  "Trustees"),  as
Trustees  under the Mortgage  and Deed of Trust,  dated as of September 1, 1945,
between the Company and Irving Trust  Company and Richard H. West,  as Trustees,
securing  bonds  issued  and  to be  issued  as  provided  therein  (hereinafter
sometimes  called the  "Mortgage"),  reference to which mortgage is hereby made,
this  indenture  (hereinafter  sometimes  called  the  "Nineteenth  Supplemental
Indenture") being supplemental thereto:

         WHEREAS,  the  Mortgage  was filed and  recorded  in  various  official
records in the State of Minnesota; and

         WHEREAS, an instrument,  dated as of October 16, 1957, was executed and
delivered under which J.A. Austin succeeded  Richard H. West as Co-Trustee under
the Mortgage,  and such  instrument  was filed and recorded in various  official
records in the State of Minnesota; and

         WHEREAS,  an  instrument,  dated as of April 4, 1967,  was executed and
delivered  under which E. J. McCabe in turn succeeded J. A. Austin as Co-Trustee
under the  Mortgage,  and such  instrument  was filed and  recorded  in  various
official records in the State of Minnesota; and

         WHEREAS, under the Sixth Supplemental Indenture,  dated as of August 1,
1975, to which  reference is hereinafter  made, D.W. May in turn succeeded E. J.
McCabe as Co-Trustee under the Mortgage; and

         WHEREAS,  an  instrument,  dated as of June 25, 1984,  was executed and
delivered  under which J. A. Vaughan in turn  succeeded D. W. May as  Co-Trustee
under the  Mortgage,  and such  instrument  was filed and  recorded  in  various
official records in the State of Minnesota; and

         WHEREAS,  an  instrument,  dated as of July 27, 1988,  was executed and
delivered  under  which W. T.  Cunningham  in turn  succeeded  J.A.  Vaughan  as
Co-Trustee  under the Mortgage,  and such  instrument  was filed and recorded in
various official records in the State of Minnesota; and

<PAGE>
                                     -2-

         WHEREAS,  by the Mortgage the Company  covenanted,  among other things,
that it would execute and deliver such supplemental  indenture or indentures and
such  further  instruments  and do such  further  acts as might be  necessary or
proper to carry out more  effectually  the  purposes of the Mortgage and to make
subject  to the  lien of the  Mortgage  any  property  thereafter  acquired  and
intended to be subject to the lien thereof; and

         WHEREAS, for said purposes, among others, the Company executed and 
delivered the following indentures supplemental to the Mortgage:

         Designation                                  Dated as of
         -----------                                  -----------
First Supplemental Indenture  . . . . . . . . .        March 1, 1949
Second Supplemental Indenture . . . . . . . . .        July 1, 1951
Third Supplemental Indenture  . . . . . . . . .        March 1, 1957
Fourth Supplemental Indenture . . . . . . . . .        January 1, 1968
Fifth Supplemental Indenture  . . . . . . . . .        April 1, 1971
Sixth Supplemental Indenture  . . . . . . . . .        August 1, 1975
Seventh Supplemental Indenture  . . . . . . . .        September 1, 1976
Eighth Supplemental Indenture . . . . . . . . .        September 1, 1977
Ninth Supplemental Indenture  . . . . . . . . .        April 1, 1978
Tenth Supplemental Indenture  . . . . . . . . .        August 1, 1978
Eleventh Supplemental Indenture . . . . . . . .        December 1, 1982
Twelfth Supplemental Indenture  . . . . . . . .        April 1, 1987
Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture . . . . . . .        March 1, 1992
Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture . . . . . . .        June 1, 1992
Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture  . . . . . . .        July 1, 1992
Sixteenth Supplemental Indenture  . . . . . . .        July 1, 1992
Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture  . . . . . .        February 1, 1993

which  supplemental  indentures  were filed and  recorded  in  various  official
records in the State of Minnesota; and

         WHEREAS, for said purposes, among others, the Company also executed and
delivered a Eighteenth Supplemental  Indenture,  dated as of July 1, 1993, which
was filed and recorded in various  official records in the State of Minnesota as
follows:

                                                             Registrar
County in                      Recorder                      of Titles
Minnesota               Date            Doc. No.          Date       Doc. No.
- ---------               ----            --------          ----       -------

Aitkin...............    7/22/93         279192            ---         ---
Benton...............    7/22/93         216475            ---         ---

<PAGE>
                                     -3-
                                                               Registrar
County in                        Recorder                      of Titles
Minnesota                  Date          Doc. No.         Date          Doc. No.
- ---------                  ----          --------         ----          --------

Carlton..............      7/26/93       290406           7/26/93       17009
Cass.................      7/22/93       349234             ---          ---
Crow Wing............      8/4/93        454463           8/4/93        107838
Hubbard..............      7/22/93       217070             ---          ---
Itasca...............      8/9/93        443960           8/9/93        32531
Koochiching..........      7/22/93       203656             ---          ---
Lake.................      7/26/93       124992           7/26/93       22877
Morrison.............      7/26/93       346958           7/26/93       2303
Otter Tail...........      7/22/93       747792             ---
Pine.................      7/23/93       335532             ---          ---
St. Louis............      7/29/93       578489           7/29/93       568173
Stearns..............      7/22/93       750975             ---          ---
Todd.................      7/22/93       353561             ---          ---
Wadena...............      7/26/93       169695             ---          ---

Office of Secretary of State of  Minnesota;  recorded  July 27, 1993 as Document
No. 1604887; and

         WHEREAS,  the Company has  heretofore  issued,  in accordance  with the
provisions of the Mortgage, as heretofore supplemented,  the following series of
First Mortgage Bonds:

                                           Principal               Principal
                                            Amount                   Amount
Series                                      Issued                Outstanding
- ------                                     ---------              -----------

3-1/8% Series due 1975 ..............     $26,000,000                 None
3-1/8% Series due 1979 ..............       4,000,000                 None
3-5/8% Series due 1981 ..............      10,000,000                 None
4-3/4% Series due 1987 ..............      12,000,000                 None
6-1/2% Series due 1998 ..............      18,000,000             $18,000,000
8-1/8% Series due 2001 ..............      23,000,000                 None
10-1/2% Series due 2005 .............      35,000,000                 None
8.70% Series due 2006 ...............      35,000,000                 None
8.35% Series due 2007 ...............      50,000,000                 None
9-1/4% Series due 2008 ..............      50,000,000                 None
Pollution Control Series A ..........     111,000,000                 None

<PAGE>
                                     -4-

                                            Principal              Principal
                                             Amount                  Amount
Series                                       Issued               Outstanding
- ------                                     ----------             -----------
Industrial Development Series A .....      $2,500,000                 None
Industrial Development Series B .....       1,800,000                 None
Industrial Development Series C .....       1,150,000                 None
Pollution Control Series B ..........      13,500,000                 None
Pollution Control Series C ..........       2,000,000                 None
Pollution Control Series D ..........       3,600,000              $3,600,000
7-3/4% Series due 1994 ..............      55,000,000                 None
7-3/8% Series due March 1, 1997 .....      60,000,000              60,000,000
7-3/4% Series due June 1, 2007 ......      55,000,000              55,000,000
7-1/2% Series due August 1, 2007 ....      35,000,000              35,000,000
Pollution Control Series E ..........     111,000,000             111,000,000
7% Series due March 1, 2008 .........      50,000,000              50,000,000
6-1/4% Series due July 1, 2003 ......      25,000,000              25,000,000

which bonds are also  hereinafter  sometimes  called bonds of the First  through
Twenty-fourth Series, respectively; and

         WHEREAS,  Section  8 of the  Mortgage  provides  that  the form of each
series of bonds (other than the First Series)  issued  thereunder and of coupons
to be attached to coupon bonds of such series shall be established by Resolution
of the Board of Directors  of the Company and that the form of such  series,  as
established by said Board of Directors,  shall specify the descriptive  title of
the bonds and various other terms thereof,  and may also contain such provisions
not  inconsistent  with the provisions of the Mortgage as the Board of Directors
may, in its discretion,  cause to be inserted therein expressing or referring to
the terms and  conditions  upon which such bonds are to be issued and/or secured
under the Mortgage; and

         WHEREAS, Section 120 of the Mortgage provides, among other things, that
any power,  privilege or right expressly or impliedly  reserved to or in any way
conferred upon the Company by any provision of the Mortgage, whether such power,
privilege  or right is in any way  restricted  or is  unrestricted,  may (to the
extent  permitted  by law) be in  whole  or in part  waived  or  surrendered  or
subjected  to any  restriction  if at the  time  unrestricted  or to  additional
restriction  if already  restricted,  and the Company may enter into any further
covenants, limitations or restrictions for the benefit of any one or more series
of bonds  issued  thereunder,  or the Company may cure any  ambiguity  contained
therein,  or in any  supplemental  indenture,  or may  establish  the  terms and
provisions  of any  series  of  bonds  (other  than  said  First  Series)  by an
instrument in writing executed and acknowledged by the Company in such manner as


<PAGE>
                                     -5-

would be necessary  to entitle a  conveyance  of real estate to record in all of
the states in which any property at the time subject to the lien of the Mortgage
shall be situated; and

         WHEREAS,  the  Company  now desires to create a new series of bonds and
(pursuant  to the  provisions  of  Section  120 of the  Mortgage)  to add to its
covenants and agreements contained in the Mortgage, as heretofore  supplemented,
certain  other  covenants  and  agreements to be observed by it and to alter and
amend  in  certain  respects  the  covenants  and  provisions  contained  in the
Mortgage, as heretofore supplemented; and

         WHEREAS,  the execution and delivery by the Company of this  Nineteenth
Supplemental  Indenture,  and the terms of the bonds of the Twenty-fifth Series,
hereinafter  referred to, have been duly authorized by the Board of Directors of
the Company by appropriate resolutions of said Board of Directors;

         Now, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

         That the Company, in consideration of the premises and of One Dollar to
it duly paid by the  Trustees at or before the  ensealing  and delivery of these
presents, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, and in further evidence of
assurance of the estate,  title and rights of the Trustees and in order  further
to secure the payment of both the principal of and interest and premium, if any,
on the  bonds  from  time to time  issued  under  the  Mortgage,  as  heretofore
supplemented, according to their tenor and effect and the performance of all the
provisions of the Mortgage (including any instruments  supplemental  thereto and
any  modification  made as in the Mortgage  provided) and of said bonds,  hereby
grants,  bargains,  sells, releases,  conveys,  assigns,  transfers,  mortgages,
pledges,  sets over and confirms (subject,  however,  to Excepted  Encumbrances)
unto THE BANK OF NEW YORK and W. T. CUNNINGHAM,  as Trustees under the Mortgage,
and to their  successor or  successors  in said trust,  and to said Trustees and
their successors and assigns forever, all property, real, personal and mixed, of
the  kind or  nature  specifically  mentioned  in the  Mortgage,  as  heretofore
supplemented,  or of any other kind or nature  acquired by the Company after the
date of the execution and delivery of the Mortgage,  as heretofore  supplemented
(except any herein or in the  Mortgage,  as heretofore  supplemented,  expressly
excepted),  now owned or, subject to the provisions of subsection (I) of Section
87  of  the   Mortgage,   hereafter   acquired  by  the  Company  (by  purchase,
consolidation, merger, donation, construction, erection or in any other way) and
wheresoever situated, including (without in anywise limiting or impairing by the
enumeration  of the same the scope and intent of the foregoing or of any general
description  contained in this  Nineteenth  Supplemental  Indenture)  all lands,
power  sites,   flowage   rights,   water   rights,   water   locations,   water
appropriations,  ditches, flumes, reservoirs, reservoir sites, canals, raceways,
dams,  dam sites,  aqueducts,  and all other rights or means for  appropriating,
conveying,  storing and supplying water; all rights of way and roads; all plants
for the generation of electricity by steam,  water and/or other power; all power
houses, gas plants, street lighting systems, standards and other

<PAGE>
                                     -6-

equipment   incidental  thereto,   telephone,   radio  and  television  systems,
air-conditioning  systems and equipment  incidental thereto,  water works, water
systems, steam heat and hot water plants, substations, lines, service and supply
systems, bridges,  culverts,  tracks, ice or refrigeration plants and equipment,
offices,   buildings  and  other  structures  and  the  equipment  thereof;  all
machinery,   engines,  boilers,  dynamos,  electric,  gas  and  other  machines,
regulators,  meters,  transformers,  generators,  motors,  electrical,  gas  and
mechanical appliances,  conduits, cables, water, steam heat, gas or other pipes,
gas mains and pipes, service pipes, fittings,  valves and connections,  pole and
transmission lines, wires, cables, tools, implements,  apparatus,  furniture and
chattels; all municipal and other franchises, consents or permits; all lines for
the transmission and distribution of electric current,  gas, steam heat or water
for any purpose including towers, poles, wires, cables, pipes,  conduits,  ducts
and all  apparatus  for use in  connection  therewith;  all real estate,  lands,
easements, servitudes, licenses, permits, franchises,  privileges, rights of way
and other rights in or relating to real estate or the  occupancy of the same and
(except as herein or in the  Mortgage,  as  heretofore  supplemented,  expressly
excepted)  all the right,  title and interest of the Company in and to all other
property  of any kind or nature  appertaining  to and/or  used  and/or  occupied
and/or enjoyed in connection with any property  hereinbefore or in the Mortgage,
as heretofore supplemented, described.

         TOGETHER   WITH  all  and   singular  the   tenements,   hereditaments,
prescriptions, servitudes and appurtenances belonging or in anywise appertaining
to  the  aforesaid  property  or  any  part  thereof,  with  the  reversion  and
reversions,  remainder and  remainders and (subject to the provisions of Section
57 of the  Mortgage)  the tolls,  rents,  revenues,  issues,  earnings,  income,
product and profits thereof,  and all the estate,  right, title and interest and
claim whatsoever,  at law as well as in equity, which the Company now has or may
hereafter acquire in and to the aforesaid property and franchises and every part
and parcel thereof.

         IT IS HEREBY AGREED by the Company that,  subject to the  provisions of
subsection  (I) of Section 87 of the  Mortgage,  all the property,  rights,  and
franchises  acquired  by  the  Company  (by  purchase,  consolidation,   merger,
donation,  construction,  erection  or in any other way) after the date  hereof,
except any herein or in the  Mortgage,  as  heretofore  supplemented,  expressly
excepted,  shall be and are as fully  granted  and  conveyed  hereby  and by the
Mortgage  and as  fully  embraced  within  the lien  hereof  and the lien of the
Mortgage  as if such  property,  rights  and  franchises  were now  owned by the
Company and were  specifically  described herein or in the Mortgage and conveyed
hereby or thereby.

         PROVIDED  that the  following are not and are not intended to be now or
hereafter granted, bargained, sold, released, conveyed,  assigned,  transferred,
mortgaged, hypothecated,  affected, pledged, set over or confirmed hereunder and
are hereby  expressly  excepted from the lien and  operation of this  Nineteenth
Supplemental Indenture and from the lien and operation of the Mortgage,  namely:
(1) cash,  shares  of  stock,  bonds,  notes  and  other  obligations  and other
securities not hereafter  specifically pledged,  paid,  deposited,  delivered or
held under the

<PAGE>
                                     -7-

Mortgage  or  covenanted  so  to  be;  (2)  merchandise,  equipment,  apparatus,
materials or supplies held for the purpose of sale or other  disposition  in the
usual  course  of  business;  fuel,  oil  and  similar  materials  and  supplies
consumable  in  the  operation  of any of the  properties  of the  Company;  all
aircraft, rolling stock, trolley coaches, buses, motor coaches,  automobiles and
other  vehicles and  materials and supplies held for the purpose of repairing or
replacing  (in whole or part) any of the same;  all  timber,  minerals,  mineral
rights and  royalties;  (3) bills,  notes and  accounts  receivable,  judgments,
demands and choses in action, and all contracts, leases and operating agreements
not  specifically  pledged  under  the  Mortgage  or  covenanted  so to be;  the
Company's  contractual  rights or other interest in or with respect to tires not
owned by the  Company;  (4) the last day of the term of any  lease or  leasehold
which may hereafter  become  subject to the lien of the  Mortgage;  (5) electric
energy,   gas,  steam,   ice,  and  other   materials  or  products   generated,
manufactured, produced or purchased by the Company for sale, distribution or use
in the ordinary course of its business;  and (6) the Company's franchise to be a
corporation;  provided, however, that the property and rights expressly excepted
from the lien and operation of this Nineteenth  Supplemental  Indenture and from
the lien and  operation  of the Mortgage in the above  subdivisions  (2) and (3)
shall (to the extent  permitted by law) cease to be so excepted in the event and
as of the date that  either or both of the  Trustees  or a  receiver  or trustee
shall enter upon and take  possession of the  Mortgaged and Pledged  Property in
the manner  provided in Article XIII of the Mortgage by reason of the occurrence
of a Default as defined in Section 65 thereof.

         TO HAVE AND TO HOLD all such  properties,  real,  personal  and  mixed,
granted, bargained, sold, released, conveyed, assigned, transferred,  mortgaged,
pledged,  set over or confirmed by the Company as  aforesaid,  or intended so to
be, unto the Trustees and their successors and assigns forever.

         IN TRUST  NEVERTHELESS,  for the same purposes and upon the same terms,
trusts and conditions and subject to and with the same provisos and covenants as
are set forth in the Mortgage,  as  supplemented,  this Nineteenth  Supplemental
Indenture being supplemental thereto.

         AND IT IS  HEREBY  COVENANTED  by  the  Company  that  all  the  terms,
conditions,  provisos,  covenants and provisions  contained in the Mortgage,  as
heretofore  supplemented,  shall affect and apply to the  property  hereinbefore
described and conveyed and to the estate, rights,  obligations and duties of the
Company and  Trustees  and the  beneficiaries  of the trust with respect to said
property,  and to the  Trustees  and their  successors  in the trust in the same
manner  and with the  same  effect  as if said  property  had been  owned by the
Company at the time of the execution of the Mortgage,  and had been specifically
and at length  described in and  conveyed to said  Trustees by the Mortgage as a
part of the property therein stated to be conveyed.

<PAGE>
                                     -8-

         The Company  further  covenants  and agrees to and with the  Trustees  
and their successors in said trust under the Mortgage as follows:


                                    ARTICLE I
                          TWENTY-FIFTH SERIES OF BONDS

         SECTION 1. There shall be a series of bonds  designated "7% Series due
February 15, 2007" (herein sometimes referred to as the "Twenty-fifth  Series"),
each of which shall also bear the descriptive  title "First Mortgage Bond",  and
the form  thereof,  which shall be  established  by  Resolution  of the Board of
Directors of the Company,  shall contain suitable provisions with respect to the
matters hereinafter in this Section specified.  Bonds of the Twenty-fifth Series
shall be dated as in Section 10 of the Mortgage provided, mature on February 15,
2007,  be issued as fully  registered  bonds in  denominations  of One  Thousand
Dollars and, at the option of the  Company,  in any multiple or multiples of One
Thousand  Dollars (the  exercise of such option to be evidenced by the execution
and delivery  thereof) and bear  interest at the rate of 7% per annum,  payable
semi-annually on February 15 and August 15 of each year,  commencing  August 15,
1997,  the  principal  of and  interest  on each said bond to be  payable at the
office or agency of the  Company in the  Borough of  Manhattan,  The City of New
York, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of
payment is legal tender for public and private debts.

         (I) Bonds of the  Twenty-fifth  Series shall not be redeemable prior to
maturity.

         (II)  At  the  option  of  the  registered  owner,  any  bonds  of  the
Twenty-fifth  Series,  upon surrender  thereof for cancellation at the office or
agency  of the  Company  in the  Borough  of  Manhattan,  The City of New  York,
together with a written  instrument of transfer wherever required by the Company
duly executed by the registered owner or by his duly authorized attorney,  shall
(subject to the provisions of Section 12 of the Mortgage) be exchangeable  for a
like aggregate  principal amount of bonds of the same series of other authorized
denominations.

         Bonds of the Twenty-fifth Series shall be transferable  (subject to the
provisions of Section 12 of the Mortgage) at the office or agency of the Company
in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York.

         Upon any exchange or transfer of bonds of the Twenty-fifth  Series, the
Company may make a charge  therefor  sufficient  to  reimburse it for any tax or
taxes or other  governmental  charge, as provided in Section 12 of the Mortgage,
but the Company hereby waives any right to make a charge in addition thereto for
any exchange or transfer of bonds of the Twenty-fifth Series.

<PAGE>
                                     -9-

         Upon the delivery of this  Nineteenth  Supplemental  Indenture and upon
compliance  with the  applicable  provisions of the Mortgage,  there shall be an
initial issue of bonds of the Twenty-fifth Series for the aggregate principal
amount of $60,000,000.


                                   ARTICLE II

                                DIVIDEND COVENANT

         SECTION 2. The  Company  covenants  and agrees that the  provisions  of
subdivision  (III) of Section 39 of the Mortgage,  which are to remain in effect
so long as any of the bonds of the First Series shall remain Outstanding,  shall
remain  in full  force and  effect  so long as any  bonds of the  First  through
Twenty-fifth Series shall remain Outstanding.


                                   ARTICLE III

                            MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

         SECTION 3.  Section 126 of the  Mortgage,  as  heretofore  amended,  is
hereby  further  amended by adding the words "and  February  15, 2007" after the
words "July 1, 2003".

         SECTION 4. Subject to the  amendments  provided for in this  Nineteenth
Supplemental  Indenture,  the  terms  defined  in the  Mortgage,  as  heretofore
supplemented, shall, for all purposes of this Nineteenth Supplemental Indenture,
have the meanings specified in the Mortgage, as heretofore supplemented.

         SECTION 5. The holders of bonds of the Twenty-fifth Series consent that
the  Company  may,  but shall not be  obligated  to,  fix a record  date for the
purpose of determining the holders of bonds of the Twenty-fifth  Series entitled
to consent to any  amendment,  supplement or waiver.  If a record date is fixed,
those  persons who were  holders at such  record date (or their duly  designated
proxies),  and  only  those  persons,  shall  be  entitled  to  consent  to such
amendment,  supplement  or waiver or to revoke  any  consent  previously  given,
whether or not such persons  continue to be holders  after such record date.  No
such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 90 days after such record
date.

         SECTION 6. The  Trustees  hereby  accept the  trusts  herein  declared,
provided,  created or supplemented  and agree to perform the same upon the terms
and conditions herein and in the Mortgage set forth and upon the following terms
and conditions:

<PAGE>
                                    -10-

        The Trustees shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in
respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Nineteenth Supplemental Indenture
or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are
made by the  Company  solely.  In  general,  each and every  term and  condition
contained in Article  XVII of the Mortgage  shall apply to and form part of this
Nineteenth  Supplemental Indenture with the same force and effect as if the same
were herein set forth in full with such omissions, variations and insertions, if
any, as may be  appropriate  to make the same conform to the  provisions of this
Nineteenth Supplemental Indenture.

         SECTION 7. Whenever in this Nineteenth Supplemental Indenture any party
hereto is named or  referred  to,  this  shall,  subject  to the  provisions  of
Articles XVI and XVII of the Mortgage, as heretofore supplemented,  be deemed to
include the  successors  or assigns of such  party,  and all the  covenants  and
agreements in this Nineteenth  Supplemental  Indenture contained by or on behalf
of the Company, or by or on behalf of the Trustees shall,  subject as aforesaid,
bind and inure to the benefit of the  respective  successors and assigns of such
party whether so expressed or not.

         SECTION 8. Nothing in this Nineteenth Supplemental Indenture, expressed
or implied, is intended, or shall be construed,  to confer upon, or give to, any
person,  firm or  corporation,  other than the parties hereto and the holders of
the bonds and coupons  Outstanding  under the Mortgage,  any right,  remedy,  or
claim  under or by  reason  of this  Nineteenth  Supplemental  Indenture  or any
covenant,  condition,  stipulation,  promise or  agreement  hereof,  and all the
covenants, conditions,  stipulations, promises and agreements in this Nineteenth
Supplemental  Indenture  contained by and on behalf of the Company  shall be for
the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto,  and of the holders of the
bonds and of the coupons Outstanding under the Mortgage.

         SECTION 9. This Nineteenth  Supplemental Indenture shall be executed in
several counterparts,  each of which shall be an original and all of which shall
constitute but one and the same instrument.

         SECTION 10. The Company,  the mortgagor named herein,  by its execution
hereof acknowledges receipt of a full, true and complete copy of this Nineteenth
Supplemental Indenture.

<PAGE>
                                    -11-

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  Minnesota  Power & Light  Company  has caused its
corporate  name to be hereunto  affixed,  and this  instrument  to be signed and
sealed by its President or one of its Vice Presidents, and its corporate seal to
be attested by its Secretary or one of its Assistant  Secretaries for and in its
behalf,  and The Bank of New York has caused its  corporate  name to be hereunto
affixed,  and  this  instrument  to be  signed  and  sealed  by one of its  Vice
Presidents or one of its Assistant Vice  Presidents and its corporate seal to be
attested  by one of  its  Assistant  Treasurers  or  one of its  Assistant  Vice
Presidents, and W. T. Cunningham has hereunto set his hand and affixed his seal,
all in The City of New York, as of the day and year first above written.



                                           MINNESOTA POWER & LIGHT COMPANY



                                           By   David G. Gartzke
                                              ---------------------------------
                                                David G. Gartzke
                                                Senior Vice President - Finance
                                                  and Chief Financial Officer



Attest:

Philip R. Halverson
- --------------------------------
Philip R. Halverson
Vice President, General Counsel
 and Corporate Secretary



Executed, sealed and delivered by
MINNESOTA POWER & LIGHT COMPANY 
in the presence of:


Jan A. Berguson
- --------------------------------

Lorie Skudstad
- --------------------------------

<PAGE>
                                    -12-




                                               THE BANK OF NEW YORK
                                                     as Trustee



                                                By   Mary LaGumina
                                                   ----------------------------
                                                     Mary LaGumina
                                                     Assistant Vice President

Attest:


B Merino
- ---------------------------
Byron Merino
Assistant Treasurer




                                                W.T. Cunningham
                                                -------------------------------
                                                W.T. Cunningham




Executed, sealed and delivered by
THE BANK OF NEW YORK AND W. T. CUNNINGHAM
in the presence of:


/s/ Illegible
- ---------------------------

Jason G. Gregory
- ---------------------------


<PAGE>
                                    -13-


STATE OF MINNESOTA                  )
                                    )   SS.:
COUNTY OF ST. LOUIS                 )

         On this 18th day of February,  1997,  before me, a Notary Public within
and for  said  County,  personally  appeared  DAVID G.  GARTZKE  and  PHILIP  R.
HALVERSON,  to me personally  known,  who, being each by me duly sworn,  did say
that they are  respectively  the  Senior  Vice  President  -  Finance  and Chief
Financial  Officer  and  the  Vice  President,  General  Counsel  and  Corporate
Secretary  of MINNESOTA  POWER & LIGHT  COMPANY of the State of  Minnesota,  the
corporation  named in the  foregoing  instrument;  that the seal  affixed to the
foregoing  instrument  is the  corporate  seal of said  corporation;  that  said
instrument  was signed and sealed in behalf of said  corporation by authority of
its Board of  Directors;  and said  DAVID G.  GARTZKE  and  PHILIP R.  HALVERSON
acknowledged said instrument to be the free act and deed of said corporation.

         Personally came before me on this 18th day of February,  1997, DAVID G.
GARTZKE  to me known  to be the  Senior  Vice  President  -  Finance  and  Chief
Financial Officer and PHILIP R. HALVERSON, to me known to be the Vice President,
General  Counsel and Corporate  Secretary,  of the above named MINNESOTA POWER &
LIGHT  COMPANY,  the  corporation  described in and which executed the foregoing
instrument,  and to me  personally  known to be the persons who as such officers
executed the foregoing  instrument  in the name and behalf of said  corporation,
who,  being by me duly sworn did depose  and say and  acknowledge  that they are
respectively the Senior Vice President  Finance and Chief Financial  Officer and
the Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of said corporation;
that  the  seal  affixed  to  said  instrument  is the  corporate  seal  of said
corporation;  and that they signed,  sealed and delivered said instrument in the
name and on behalf of said  corporation  by  authority of its Board of Directors
and  stockholders,  and said DAVID G. GARTZKE and PHILIP R.  HALVERSON  then and
there acknowledged said instrument to be the free act and deed of said
corporation and that such corporation executed the same.

         On the 18th day of February,  1997,  before me personally came DAVID G.
GARTZKE and PHILIP R. HALVERSON,  to me known,  who, being by me duly sworn, did
depose and say that they  respectively  reside at 2609 East 5th Street,  Duluth,
Minnesota,  and  3364  West  Tischer  Road,  Duluth,  Minnesota;  that  they are
respectively the Senior Vice President - Finance and Chief Financial Officer and
the Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of MINNESOTA POWER &
LIGHT COMPANY, one of the corporations described in and which executed the above
instrument;  that they know the seal of said corporation;  that the seal affixed
to said  instrument is such corporate  seal;  that it was so affixed by order of
the Board of  Directors  of said  corporation,  and that they signed their names
thereto by like order.

         GIVEN under my hand and notarial seal this 18th day of February, 1997.


                                                Kristie J. Lindstrom
                                                ----------------------------
                    
                                                [SEAL]  KRISTIE J. LINDSTROM
                                                        NOTARY PUBLIC-MINNESOTA
                                                           ST. LOUIS COUNTY
                                                        My Comm. Expires Jan.
                                                          31, 2000


<PAGE>
                                    -14-


STATE OF NEW YORK                   )
                                    )  SS:
COUNTY OF NEW YORK                  )

         On this 18th day of February,  1997,  before me, a Notary Public within
and for said County,  personally  appeared MARY LAGUMINA and BYRON MERINO, to me
personally  known,  who,  being  each by me duly  sworn,  did say that  they are
respectively an Assistant Vice President and an Assistant  Treasurer of THE BANK
OF NEW YORK of the State of New York,  the  corporation  named in the  foregoing
instrument;  that the seal affixed to the foregoing  instrument is the corporate
seal of said  corporation;  that said instrument was signed and sealed in behalf
of said  corporation  by  authority  of its  Board of  Directors;  and said MARY
LAGUMINA and BYRON MERINO  acknowledged  said  instrument to be the free act and
deed of said corporation.

         Personally  came  before me on this 18th day of  February,  1997,  MARY
LAGUMINA, to me known to be an Assistant Vice President, and BYRON MERINO, known
to me to be an Assistant Treasurer, of the above named THE BANK OF NEW YORK, the
corporation described in and which executed the foregoing instrument,  and to me
personally  known to be the persons who as such officers  executed the foregoing
instrument  in the name and behalf of said  corporation,  who,  being by me duly
sworn did depose and say and acknowledge that they are respectively an Assistant
Vice  President and an Assistant  Treasurer of said  corporation;  that the seal
affixed to said instrument is the corporate seal of said  corporation;  and that
they signed,  sealed and delivered said  instrument in the name and on behalf of
said corporation by authority of its Board of Directors,  and said MARY LAGUMINA
and BYRON MERINO then and there  acknowledged said instrument to be the free act
and deed of said corporation and that such corporation executed the same.

         On the 18th day of  February,  1997,  before  me  personally  came MARY
LAGUMINA and BYRON MERINO,  to me known, who, being by me duly sworn, did depose
and say that they respectively reside at 214-12 40th Avenue,  Bayside, New York,
and 30 Stuyvesant Avenue,  Lyndhurst,  New Jersey; that they are respectively an
Assistant Vice President and an Assistant Treasurer of THE BANK OF NEW YORK, one
of the corporations  described in and which executed the above instrument;  that
they know the seal of said corporation; that the seal affixed to said instrument
is such  corporate  seal;  that it was so  affixed  by  order  of the  Board  of
Directors of said corporation,  and that they signed their names thereto by like
order.

         GIVEN under my hand and notarial seal this 18th day of February, 1997.



                                            William J. Cassels
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            William J. Cassels
                                            Notary Public, State of New York
                                            No. 01CA5027729
                                            Qualified in Bronx County
  [SEAL]                                    Certificate Filed in New York County
                                            Commission Expires May 16, 1998


<PAGE>
                                    -15-


STATE OF NEW YORK                   )
                                    )  SS:
COUNTY OF NEW YORK                  )


         On this 18th day of February, 1997, before me personally appeared W. T.
CUNNINGHAM,  to me known to be the  person  described  in and who  executed  the
foregoing instrument, and acknowledged that he executed the same as his free act
and deed.

         Personally  came before me this 18th day of February,  1997,  the above
named W. T. CUNNINGHAM,  to me known to be the person who executed the foregoing
instrument, and acknowledged the same.

         On the 18th day of  February,  1997,  before me  personally  came W. T.
CUNNINGHAM,  to me known to be the  person  described  in and who  executed  the
foregoing instrument, and acknowledged that he executed the same.

         GIVEN under my hand and notarial seal this 18th day of February, 1997.



                                            William J. Cassels
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            William J. Cassels
                                            Notary Public, State of New York
                                            No. 01CA5027729
                                            Qualified in Bronx County
  [SEAL]                                    Certificate Filed in New York County
                                            Commission Expires May 16, 1998

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-4.B.1
<SEQUENCE>3
<DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 4(B)1
<TEXT>




<PAGE>
                                                                 Exhibit 4(b)1
<PAGE>

                                                     Executed in 6 Counterparts
                                                         of which this is
                                                         Counterpart No. 2


                     SUPERIOR WATER, LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY

                                       TO

                                  CHEMICAL BANK

                                       and

                                   PETER MORSE


                     As Trustees Under Superior Water, Light
                 and Power Company's Mortgage and Deed of Trust,
                            Dated as of March 1, 1943





                          ----------------------------
                          SIXTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
                          ----------------------------



                           Dated as of March 24, 1994


<PAGE>

                          SIXTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE


         INDENTURE,  dated as of the 24th day of March,  1994,  made and entered
into by and between  SUPERIOR WATER,  LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY,  a corporation of
the  State of  Wisconsin,  whose  post  office  address  is 1230  Tower  Avenue,
Superior,  Wisconsin 54880 (hereinafter sometimes called the Company),  party of
the first part, and CHEMICAL BANK  (successor to Chemical Bank & Trust Company),
a corporation of the State of New York,  whose principal  corporate trust office
at  the  date  hereof  is 450  West  33rd  Street,  New  York,  New  York  10001
(hereinafter  called the  Corporate  Trustee) , and PETER  MORSE  (successor  to
Howard B. Smith, Russell H. Sherman,  Richard G. Pintard,  Steven F. Lasher, and
C. G. Martens),  whose post office address is 84-26 115th Street, Richmond Hill,
New York 11418  (hereinafter  sometimes called the  Co-Trustee),  parties of the
second part (the Corporate Trustee and the Co-Trustee being hereinafter together
sometimes called the Trustees), as Trustees under the Mortgage and Deed of Trust
dated as of March 1, 1943 (hereinafter called the Mortgage),  which Mortgage was
executed and delivered by Superior Water,  Light and Power Company to secure the
payment  of bonds  issued  or to be  issued  under  and in  accordance  with the
provisions of the  Mortgage,  reference to which  Mortgage is hereby made,  this
Indenture (hereinafter sometimes called the Sixth Supplemental  Indenture) being
supplemental thereto;

         WHEREAS,  said  Mortgage  was recorded in the office of the Register of
Deeds in and for Douglas  County,  Wisconsin,  on May 3, 1943,  in Volume 191 of
Mortgages at page 1, Document No. 362844; and

         WHEREAS,  an instrument dated as of September 15, 1949, was executed by
the Company  appointing  Russell H. Sherman as  Co-Trustee in succession to said
Howard B.  Smith,  resigned,  under said  Mortgage  and by  Russell  H.  Sherman
accepting the appointment as Co-Trustee under said Mortgage in succession to the
said  Howard B.  Smith,  which  instrument  was  recorded  in the  office of the
Register of Deeds in and for Douglas County,  Wisconsin,  on October 8, 1949, in
Volume 196 of Mortgages at page 510, Document No. 398649; and

         WHEREAS, by the Mortgage,  the Company covenanted that it would execute
and  deliver  such  supplemental   indenture  or  indentures  and  such  further
instruments  and do such  further  acts as might be necessary or proper to carry
out more  effectively  the  purposes of the  Mortgage and to make subject to the
lien of the Mortgage any property  acquired  after the date of the  execution of
the Mortgage and intended to be subject to the lien thereof; and

         WHEREAS,  the Company  executed and delivered to the Trustees its First
Supplemental Indenture,  dated as of March 1, 1951 (hereinafter called its First
Supplemental  Indenture),  which was  recorded in the office of the  Register of
Deeds in and for Douglas County,  Wisconsin, on March 30, 1951, in Volume 205 of
Mortgages at page 73, Document No. 405297; and

<PAGE>

         WHEREAS,  an instrument  dated as of May 16, 1961,  was executed by the
Company  appointing  Richard G.  Pintard as  Co-Trustee  in  succession  to said
Russell H.  Sherman,  resigned,  under said  Mortgage  and by Richard G. Pintard
accepting the  appointment  as  Co-Trustee  under said Mortgage in succession to
said Russell H. Sherman,  which  instrument  was recorded  in the office of the
Register of Deeds in and for Douglas  County,  Wisconsin,  on May 31,  1961,  in
Volume 256 of Mortgages at page 423, Document No. 453857; and

         WHEREAS , the Company executed and delivered to the Trustees its Second
Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 1, 1962 (hereinafter called its Second
Supplemental  Indenture),  which was  recorded in the office of the  Register of
Deeds in and for Douglas County,  Wisconsin, on March 26, 1962, in Volume 261 of
Mortgages at page 81, Document No. 457662; and

         WHEREAS,  an instrument  dated as of June 23, 1976, was executed by the
Company  appointing Steven F. Lasher as Co-Trustee in succession to said Richard
G. Pintard,  resigned, under said Mortgage and by Steven F. Lasher accepting the
appointment  as Co-Trustee  under said Mortgage in succession to said Richard G.
Pintard, which instrument was recorded in the office of the Register of Deeds in
and for Douglas County, Wisconsin, on July 16, 1976, in Volume 353 of Records at
page 274, Document No. 532495; and

         WHEREAS , the Company  executed and delivered to the Trustees its Third
Supplemental  Indenture,  dated as of July 1, 1976 (hereinafter called its Third
Supplemental  Indenture),  which was  recorded in the office of the  Register of
Deeds in and for Douglas County, Wisconsin, on October 1, 1976, in Volume 355 of
Records at page 683, Document No. 534332; and

         WHEREAS,  an instrument  dated as of December 30, 1977, was executed by
the Company  appointing C. G. Martens as Co-Trustee in succession to said Steven
F. Lasher,  resigned,  under said  Mortgage and by C. G. Martens  accepting  the
appointment  as  Co-Trustee  under said Mortgage in succession to said Steven F.
Lasher,  which instrument was recorded in the office of the Register of Deeds in
and for Douglas  County,  Wisconsin,  on  February  13,  1985,  in Volume 436 of
Records at page 264, Document No. 589308; and

         WHEREAS,  the Company executed and delivered to the Trustees its Fourth
Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 1, 1985 (hereinafter called its Fourth
Supplemental  Indenture),  which was  recorded in the office of the  Register of
Deeds in and for Douglas County,  Wisconsin, on March 19, 1985, in Volume 436 of
Records at page 910, Document No. 589776; and

         WHEREAS,  an instrument  dated as of October 26, 1992,  was executed by
the Company appointing Peter Morse as Co-Trustee in

                                   2
<PAGE>

succession  to said C. G.  Martens,  resigned,  under said Mortgage and by Peter
Morse accepting the appointment as Co-Trustee  under said Mortgage in succession
to said C. G.  Martens,  which  instrument  was  recorded  in the  office of the
Register of Deeds in and for Douglas County, Wisconsin, on November 13, 1992, in
Volume 539 of Records at page 9, Document No. 649056; and

         WHEREAS,  the Company  executed and delivered to the Trustees its Fifth
Supplemental  Indenture,  dated as of December 1, 1992  (hereinafter  called its
Fifth Supplemental Indenture),  which was recorded in the office of the Register
of Deeds in and for Douglas County,  Wisconsin,  on December 28, 1992, in Volume
541 of Records at page 229, Document No. 650104; and

         WHEREAS,  in addition to the  property  described in the  Mortgage,  as
heretofore supplemented, the Company has acquired certain other property, rights
and interests in property; and

         WHEREAS,  the Company has  heretofore  issued,  in accordance  with the
provisions  of the Mortgage,  bonds of a series  entitled and  designated  First
Mortgage  Bonds,  3 3/8%  Series due 1973  (hereinafter  called the bonds of the
First  Series),  in the aggregate  principal  amount of Two Million Five Hundred
Thousand Dollars  ($2,500,000),  none of which bonds of the First Series are now
Outstanding;  bonds of a series entitled and designated  First Mortgage Bonds, 3
1/10% Series due 1981  (hereinafter  called the bonds of the Second Series),  in
the aggregate  principal  amount of Five Million Dollars  ($5,000,000),  none of
which bonds of the Second Series are now Outstanding; bonds of a series entitled
and designated First Mortgage Bonds, 5% Series due 1992 (hereinafter  called the
bonds of the Third  Series),  in the aggregate  principal  amount of Two Million
Seven Hundred  Thousand Dollars  ($2,700,000),  none of which bonds of the Third
Series are now  Outstanding;  bonds of a series  entitled and  designated  First
Mortgage  Bonds,  9 5/8%  Series due 2001  (hereinafter  called the bonds of the
Fourth  Series),  in the aggregate  principal  amount of Three  Million  Dollars
($3,000,000),  of which One Million Two Hundred  Thousand  Dollars  ($1,200,000)
aggregate  principal amount is now  Outstanding;  bonds of a series entitled and
designated First Mortgage Bonds, 12 1/2% Series due 1992 (hereinafter called the
bonds of the Fifth Series),  in the aggregate  principal amount of Three Million
Five Hundred  Thousand  Dollars  ($3,500,000),  none of which bonds of the Fifth
Series are now Outstanding;  and bonds of a series entitled and designated First
Mortgage Bonds, 7.91% Series due 2013 (hereinafter called the bonds of the Sixth
Series), in the aggregate principal amount of Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000),
of  which  Four  Million  Seven  Hundred  Fifty  Thousand  Dollars  ($4,750,000)
aggregate principal amount is now Outstanding; and

         WHEREAS, Section 120 of the Mortgage provides, among other things, that
the Company may enter into any further  covenants,  limitations or  restrictions
for the benefit of any one or more

                                   3
<PAGE>
series of bonds  issued  thereunder  by an  instrument  in writing  executed and
acknowledged  by the Company in such manner as would be  necessary  to entitle a
conveyance  of real  estate to be of  record  in all of the  states in which any
property at the time subject to the lien of the Mortgage shall be situated; and

         WHEREAS,  the  Company  now  desires to modify  the Third  Supplemental
Indenture  and the terms of the bonds of the  Fourth  Series,  issued  under the
Third  Supplemental  Indenture,  and to add to  the  covenants,  limitations  or
restrictions  contained in the Mortgage certain other covenants,  limitations or
restrictions to be observed by it and to amend the Mortgage; and

         WHEREAS,  the  execution  and  delivery  by the  Company  of this Sixth
Supplemental  Indenture,   and  the  modifications  of  the  Third  Supplemental
Indenture and the terms of the bonds of the Fourth Series  hereinafter  referred
to,  have been duly  authorized  by the Board of  Directors  of the  Company  by
appropriate resolutions of said Board of Directors;

         WHEREAS,  the  amendments to the Third  Supplemental  Indenture and the
terms of the bonds of the Fourth  Series  contained  in this Sixth  Supplemental
Indenture  have been duly  approved  by the  holders of one  hundred  per centum
(100%) in  principal  amount  of the  bonds  outstanding  and  entitled  to vote
thereon.

         NOW, THEREFORE,  THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:  That Superior Water, Light
and Power Company, in consideration of the premises and of One Dollar ($1) to it
duly paid by the  Trustees  at or before the  ensealing  and  delivery  of these
presents, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, and in further evidence of
assurance of the estate,  title and rights of the Trustees and in order  further
to secure the payment both of the principal of and interest and premium, if any,
on the bonds from time to time issued  under the  Mortgage,  according  to their
tenor and effect,  and the  performance  of all the  provisions  of the Mortgage
(including any instruments  supplemental thereto and any modification made as in
the  Mortgage  provided)  and of said bonds,  hereby  grants,  bargains,  sells,
releases,  conveys,  assigns,  transfers,  mortgages,  pledges,  sets  over  and
confirms (subject,  however, to Excepted Encumbrances as defined in Section 6 of
the Mortgage)  unto Peter Morse and (to the extent of its legal capacity to hold
the same for the  purposes  hereof) to  Chemical  Bank,  as  Trustees  under the
Mortgage,  and to their  successor  or  successors  in said  trust,  and to said
Trustees and their successors and assigns forever, all and singular the permits,
franchises,  rights, privileges,  grants and property, real, personal and mixed,
now owned or which may be hereafter  acquired by the Company  (except any of the
character  herein or in the Mortgage  expressly  excepted),  including  (but not
limited  to) its  electric  light and  power  works,  gas  works,  water  works,
buildings, structures,  machinery, equipment, mains, pipes, lines, poles, wires,
easements, rights of way, permits, franchises, rights,

                                   4
<PAGE>
privileges,  grants and all property of every kind and description,  situated in
the City of Superior, Douglas County, Wisconsin, or elsewhere in Douglas County,
Wisconsin,  in Washburn County,  Wisconsin, or in any other place or places, now
owned by the Company,  or that may be hereafter  acquired by it, including,  but
not limited to, the following  described  properties of the  Company--that is to
say:

         All Lands and Rights and  Interests in Lands of the Company  
         (except any such property as may have been released from the 
         lien of the Mortgage),  including,  but not  limited to, all 
         such  property  acquired  by the Company under the following  
         deed, which is referred  to for more particular descriptions 
         thereof, to wit:

                  Deed  from Burlington  Northern  Railroad  to the 
                  Company, dated  December  17,  1993 and  recorded 
                  in the office of the Register of Deeds of Douglas
                  County, Wisconsin, on January 25, 1994, in Volume 
                  565 of Records at p. 510.

        All other property,  real,  personal and mixed,  acquired by the Company
after the date of the execution and delivery of the Mortgage  (except any herein
or in the Mortgage, as heretofore  supplemented,  expressly excepted), now owned
or  hereafter  acquired  by the  Company  and  wheresoever  situated,  including
(without in any way  limiting or impairing  by the  enumeration  of the same the
scope and intent of the  foregoing  or of any general  description  contained in
this Sixth Supplemental Indenture) all lands, power sites, flowage rights, water
rights,  water  franchises,  water  locations,  water  appropriations,  ditches,
flumes,  reservoirs,   reservoir  sites,  canals,  raceways,  dams,  dam  sites,
aqueducts, and all other rights or means for appropriating,  conveying,  storing
and supplying water; all rights of way and roads; all plants, works,  reservoirs
and tanks for the pumping and purification of water; all water works; all plants
for the generation of electricity by water,  steam and/or other power; all power
houses,  gas plants,  street  lighting  systems,  standards and other  equipment
incidental thereto,  telephone,  radio and television systems,  air-conditioning
systems and equipment  incidental  thereto,  water  systems,  steam heat and hot
water plants, substations, lines, service and supply systems, bridges, culverts,
tracks,  street and interurban  railway  systems,  offices,  buildings and other
structures and the equipment thereof; all machinery,  engines, boilers, dynamos,
water,  electric,  gas and other  machines,  regulators,  meters,  transformers,
generators, motors, water, electrical, gas and mechanical appliances,  conduits,
cables,  water,  steam,  heat,  gas or other  mains and  pipes,  service  pipes,
fittings,  valves and connections,  pole and transmission lines, wires,  cables,
tools,  implements,  apparatus,  furniture,  chattels and choses in action;  all
municipal  and  other  franchises,  consents  or  permits;  all  lines  for  the
transmission and distribution of water, electric current, gas, steam heat or hot
water for any purpose, including

                                   5
<PAGE>

towers, poles, wires, cables, pipes,  conduits,  ducts and all apparatus for use
in  connection  therewith;  all  real  estate,  lands,  easements,   servitudes,
licenses, permits, franchises,  privileges, rights of way and other rights in or
relating to real estate or the occupancy of the same and (except as herein or in
the Mortgage,  as heretofore  supplemented,  expressly  excepted) all the right,
title and  interest of the  Company in and to all other  property of any kind or
nature  appertaining to and/or used and/or occupied and/or enjoyed in connection
with any property herein before or in the Mortgage, as heretofore  supplemented,
described.

         Together  with  all  and  singular  the  tenements,  hereditaments  and
appurtenances  belonging or in any way appertaining to the aforesaid property or
any part thereof,  with the reversion and  reversions,  remainder and remainders
and (subject to the provisions of Section 57 of the Mortgage) the tolls,  rents,
revenues,  issues,  earnings,  income,  product and profits thereof, and all the
estate,  right,  title and interest and claim  whatsoever,  at law as well as in
equity,  which  the  Company  now  has or may  hereafter  acquire  in and to the
aforesaid property and franchises and every part and parcel thereof.

         It is hereby  agreed by the Company that all the  property,  rights and
franchises  acquired by the Company after the date hereof  (except any herein or
in the Mortgage,  as heretofore  supplemented,  expressly excepted) shall be and
are as fully granted and conveyed  hereby and as fully embraced  within the lien
of the Mortgage as if such property, rights and franchises were now owned by the
Company and were specifically described herein and conveyed hereby.

         Provided  that the  following are not and are not intended to be now or
hereafter granted, bargained, sold, released, conveyed,  assigned,  transferred,
mortgaged,  pledged,  set over or confirmed  hereunder and are hereby  expressly
excepted from the lien and operation of the Mortgage,  via: (1) cash,  shares of
stock,  bonds,  notes and other  obligations and other  securities not hereafter
specifically pledged,  paid, deposited,  delivered or held under the Mortgage or
covenanted so to be; (2) merchandise,  equipment, materials or supplies held for
the purpose of sale in the usual  course of business  and fuel,  oil and similar
materials  and supplies  consumable  in the  operation of any  properties of the
Company;  rolling stock,  buses, motor coaches,  automobiles and other vehicles;
(3)  bills,  notes  and  accounts  receivable,  and all  contracts,  leases  and
operating  agreements not specifically  pledged under the Mortgage or covenanted
so to be;  the  last  day of the  term  of any  lease  or  leasehold  which  may
heretofore have or hereafter may become subject to the lien of the Mortgage; (4)
water, electric energy, gas, ice and other materials or products pumped, stored,
generated,  manufactured,  produced  or  purchased  by  the  Company  for  sale,
distribution  or use in the ordinary  course of its business;  (5) the Company's
franchise  to  be a  corporation;  and  (6)  all  permits,  franchises,  rights,
privileges, grants and property in the

                                   6
<PAGE>

state of  Minnesota  now  owned  or  hereafter  acquired  unless  such  permits,
franchises,  rights,  privileges,  grants and property in the state of Minnesota
shall  have  been  subjected  to the lien of the  Mortgage  by an  indenture  or
indentures supplemental to the Mortgage,  pursuant to authorization of the Board
of Directors  of the Company,  whereupon  all the permits,  franchises,  rights,
privileges, grants and property then owned or thereafter acquired by the Company
in the state of Minnesota (except property of the character  expressly  excepted
from the lien of the  Mortgage  in clauses (1) to (5) above,  inclusive),  shall
become and be subject to the lien of the Mortgage as part of the  Mortgaged  and
Pledged  Property and may be released,  funded and  otherwise  dealt with on the
same terms and subject to the same  conditions  and  restrictions  as though not
theretofore excepted from the lien of the Mortgage;  provided, however, that the
property  and  rights  expressly  excepted  from the lien and  operation  of the
Mortgage in the above subdivisions (2) and (3) shall (to the extent permitted by
law) cease to be so excepted in the event and as of the date that either or both
of the Trustees or a receiver or trustee shall enter upon and take possession of
the Mortgaged and Pledged Property in the manner provided in Article XIII of the
Mortgage  by reason of the  occurrence  of a Default as defined in Section 65 of
the Mortgage.

         To have and to hold all such  properties,  real,  personal  and  mixed,
granted, bargained, sold, released, conveyed, assigned, transferred,  mortgaged,
pledged,  set over or confirmed by the Company as  aforesaid,  or intended so to
be, unto Peter  Morse and (to the extent of its legal  capacity to hold the same
for the purposes hereof) to Chemical Bank, as Trustees, and their successors and
assigns forever.

         In trust  nevertheless,  for the same purposes and upon the same terms,
trusts and conditions and subject to and with the same provisos and covenants as
are  set  forth  in  the  Mortgage,  as  heretofore  supplemented,   this  Sixth
Supplemental Indenture being supplemental thereto.

         And it is  hereby  covenanted  by  the  Company  that  all  the  terms,
conditions,  provisos,  covenants and provisions  contained in the Mortgage,  as
heretofore  supplemented,  shall affect and apply to the property  herein before
described and conveyed and to the estate, rights,  obligations and duties of the
Company and the Trustees and the beneficiaries of the trust with respect to said
property, and to the Trustees and their successors as Trustees of said property,
in the same manner and with the same effect as if said  property  had been owned
by the  Company  at the  time of the  execution  of the  Mortgage,  and had been
specifically  and at length  described  in and  conveyed to the  Trustees by the
Mortgage as part of the property therein stated to be conveyed.

                                   7
<PAGE>
         The Company  further  covenants and agrees to and with the Trustees and
their successors in said trust under the Mortgage as follows:

                                   ARTICLE I.

                Amendment to the Third Supplemental Indenture and
                      Terms of the Fourth Series of Bonds.

         SECTION  1.  Effective  upon  the  date  of  this  Sixth   Supplemental
Indenture,  the Third  Supplemental  Indenture and the terms of the Bonds of the
Fourth Series shall be amended as follows:

         (a) The Bonds of the Fourth Series shall bear interest (computed on the
basis of a 360 day year--30-day month) at the rate of (a) six and ten hundredths
per centum (6.10%) per annum at any time other than during the  continuance of a
Payment  Default and (b) eight and ten  hundredths  per centum (8.10%) per annum
during the continuance of any Payment Default, payable semi-annually on January
1 and July 1 of each  year,  commencing  July 1,  1994,  except that any overdue
payment (including any overdue prepayment) of principal,  any overdue payment of
any premium and to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under
applicable  law,  any  overdue  installment  of  interest  shall  bear  interest
(computed on the basis of a 360-day year--30-day month), payable semiannually as
aforesaid (or, at the option of the holder of the Bonds,  on demand),  at a rate
per annum from time to time equal to the greater of (i) eight and ten hundredths
per centum  (8.10%) or (ii) the rate of interest  publicly  announced  by Morgan
Guaranty  Trust  Company  of New York  from time to time in New York City as its
prime rate.  The rate of interest to be borne by the Bonds of the Fourth  Series
prior  to the  date of this  Sixth  Supplemental  Indenture  shall  be the  rate
provided by Section 1 of Article I of the Third Supplemental  Indenture prior to
the amendments thereto made by this Sixth Supplemental Indenture.  The principal
of, and the premium, if any, and the interest on, the Bonds of the Fourth Series
shall be payable in such coin or currency of the United  States of America as at
the time of payment shall be legal tender for public and private  debts,  at the
office or agency of the Company in the Borough of  Manhattan,  City of New York,
or the office of the Company in Superior, Wisconsin.

         (b) The Bonds of the Fourth  Series may be redeemed  prior to maturity,
in whole at any time or in part (in multiples of $500,000) from time to time, at
the option of the Company,  or by the  application  (either at the option of the
Company or pursuant to the requirements of the Mortgage) of cash delivered to or
deposited with the Corporate  Trustee  pursuant to the provisions of Section 39,
Section 61,  Section 64 or Section 118 of the  Mortgage or with the  Proceeds of
Released Property, in any such case at 100% of the principal amount of the bonds
being redeemed plus interest accrued

                                   8
<PAGE>


thereon to the date of  redemption,  together  with a premium equal to the Yield
Maintenance  Amount, if any, with respect to the bonds being redeemed.  Any Bond
of the Fourth Series redeemed pursuant to this paragraph may not be delivered to
the  Corporate  Trustee  in full or partial  satisfaction  of the  sinking  fund
requirement contained in Section 2 of the Third Supplemental Indenture and shall
not reduce the amount of the Bonds of the Fourth Series to be redeemed  pursuant
to such Section 2.

         Notice of any  redemption  of the Bonds of the Fourth  Series  shall be
given  by  mail,  postage  prepaid,  at  least  30  days  prior  to the  date of
redemption,  to the  registered  owners of all Bonds to be so  redeemed at their
respective  addresses  appearing on the books maintained by the Company pursuant
to Section 13 of the  Mortgage.  Any notice  which is mailed as herein  provided
shall be conclusively  presumed to have been properly and sufficiently  given on
the date of such  mailing,  whether or not the  registered  owner  receives  the
notice.  In any case,  failure  to give  notice by mail,  or any  defect in such
notice,  to the registered owner of any Bond of the Fourth Series designated for
redemption in whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the  proceedings
for the redemption of any other Bond of the Fourth Series.

         The provisions of this clause (b) shall apply in lieu of the provisions
of  subdivision  (I)  of  Section  1 of  Article  I of  the  Third  Supplemental
Indenture,  which subdivision (I) is hereby deleted in its entirety, and in lieu
of the  provisions  of  subdivision  (II) of Section 1 of Article I of the Third
Supplemental  Indenture  insofar as such  provisions  of such  subdivision  (II)
relate to any  redemption  of the Bonds of the Fourth Series by  application  of
cash  delivered  to or  deposited  with the  Corporate  Trustee  pursuant to the
provisions of Section 39 or Section 64 of the Mortgage, which provisions of such
subdivision (II) are hereby deleted in their entirety.

         (c)  Subdivision   (II)  of  Section  1  of  Article  I  of  the  Third
Supplemental  Indenture is hereby further  amended by amending the first proviso
thereof,  in lines nine  through  sixteen  thereof,  in its  entirety to read as
follows:

         "provided,  however,  that in the case of application of cash
         delivered to the Corporate Trustee pursuant to the provisions
         of Section 2 hereof,  If the date  fixed for such  redemption
         shall be prior to  January  1 of the  calendar  year in which
         such  delivery of cash shall become due under the  provisions
         of Section 2 hereof,  they shall be  redeemed  in  accordance
         with the  provisions of clause (b) of the Sixth  Supplemental
         Indenture at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of
         the bonds being redeemed plus interest accrued thereon to the
         date of  redemption  together  with a  premium  equal  to the
         Yield-

                                   9
<PAGE>
         Maintenance  Amount,  if any, with respect to the bonds being
         redeemed."

         (d) All partial redemptions of Bonds of the Fourth Series shall be made
ratably  among  all  registered  owners  thereof  in the  proportions  which the
principal  amount  of the  Bonds  held by each  registered  owner  bears  to the
aggregate  principal amount of all Bonds of the Fourth Series then  outstanding,
computed to the nearest $1,000 principal amount of the Bonds.

         (e) In the event that the  principal  amount of the Bonds of the Fourth
Series is declared due and payable upon the  occurrence  of a Default or becomes
due and payable pursuant to Section 73 of the Mortgage,  there shall then become
due and payable,  together with the principal  amount of the Bonds of the Fourth
Series and interest accrued thereon,  a premium equal to the amount of the Yield
Maintenance  Amount  which would have been payable with respect to such Bonds of
the  Fourth  Series,  if they had been  redeemed  at the  option of the  Company
pursuant to Section 1 in this Sixth Supplemental  Indenture on the date on which
the Bonds of the  Fourth  Series  became  due and  payable;  provided  that such
premium, if any, with respect to the Bonds of the Fourth Series shall become due
and payable only if such  Default is, or such sale is made  following a Default,
other than one specified in any of clauses (ix),  (x) and (xi) of the definition
of the term "Event of Default" contained in this Sixth Supplemental Indenture or
subsections (e) or (f) of Section 65 of the Mortgage.

         SECTION  2.  Except to the  extent  expressly  set forth in this  Sixth
Supplemental  Indenture,  the Third Supplemental  Indenture and the terms of the
Bonds, as provided in the Third Supplementa1 Indenture, remain unchanged.

                                   ARTICLE II.

                           Covenants and Restrictions.

         The  following  covenants  and  restrictions  are  added  to the  Third
Supplemental  Indenture  effective  upon  the  date of this  Sixth  Supplemental
Indenture:

         SECTION  3. The  Company  covenants  that,  so long as any Bonds of the
Fourth Series are  outstanding,  it will not merge or consolidate with any other
Person or sell,  lease or transfer or otherwise  dispose of all or a Substantial
Part of its assets, or assets which shall have contributed a Substantial Part of
net income of the Company for any of the three fiscal  years then most  recently
ended,  to any  Person;  provided,  however,  that  the  Company  may  merge  or
consolidate with, or sell or transfer all or substantially all of its assets to,
Minnesota  Power,  but  only if (a) in the  event  that  Minnesota  Power is the
continuing  or surviving  corporation  or the acquiring  corporation,  Minnesota
Power shall be a solvent

                                   10
<PAGE>
corporation and shall expressly  assume in writing all of the obligations of the
Company under the Mortgage, the Third Supplementa1 Indenture, as amended by this
Sixth  Supplemental  Indenture,  the  Bonds of the  Fourth  Series  and the Bond
Purchase  Agreement,  including all covenants therein and herein contained,  and
Minnesota  Power shall  succeed to and be  substituted  for the Company with the
same  effect  as if it had been  named  herein  as a party  hereto,  and (b) the
Company as the  continuing or surviving  corporation  or Minnesota  Power as the
continuing or surviving  corporation or acquiring  corporation,  as the case may
be, shall not,  immediately after such merger or consolidation,  or such sale or
other disposition, be in default under any of such obligations.

         SECTION  4. The  Company  covenants  that,  so long as any Bonds of the
Fourth  Series shall  remain  outstanding,  the Company will not issue,  sell or
otherwise dispose of any of its shares of capital stock to any Person other than
Minnesota Power.

         SECTION 5. The Company  covenants  that, so long as any of the Bonds of
the Fourth Series are outstanding, the Company shall not have any Subsidiaries.

         SECTION 6. A default by the Company in the  observance  of any covenant
or  agreement  contained  in  Sections  3 through  5,  inclusive,  of this Sixth
Supplemental  Indenture  or the  occurrence  of an Event of Default  (as defined
herein)  shall be deemed to constitute an  additional  and  independent  Default
under,  and defined in,  Section 65 of the Mortgage;  provided that the Trustees
shall not be  charged  with  knowledge  of any such  default or Event of Default
unless a Responsible  Officer assigned to its Corporate  Trustee  Administration
Department  shall have actual  knowledge  thereof or shall have received written
notice thereof from a registered  owner of any Bond of the Fourth Series or from
the  Company.  None of the  additional  Defaults  provided  for pursuant to this
Section 6 are intended or shall be deemed to limit any of the Defaults currently
expressed in the Mortgage  and none of the Defaults  currently  expressed in the
Mortgage are intended or shall be deemed to limit any of the additional Defaults
provided for pursuant to this Section 6.

                                  ARTICLE III.

                            Miscellaneous Provisions.

         SECTION 7. For purposes of the Third  Supplemental  Indenture  and this
Sixth  Supplemental  Indenture,  the  following  terms  shall have the  meanings
indicated below:

         "Bond Purchase  Agreement" shall mean the Bond Purchase Agreement dated
as of September 22, 1976, between the Company, Bankers Life Company and Lutheran
Mutual  Life  Insurance  Company,  as  amended  by  the  Amendment  to  Purchase
Agreement, dated the date of

                                   11
<PAGE>


this Sixth Supplemental Indenture, between the Company and the Purchaser.

         "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday,  a Sunday or a
day on which  commercial banks in New York City are required or authorized to be
closed.

         "Called  Principal" shall mean, with respect to any Bond, the principal
of such Bond that is to be redeemed.

         "Capitalized  Lease  Obligation"  shall mean with respect to any Person
any rental obligation which,  under generally  accepted  accounting  principles,
would be required to be  capitalized  on the books of such Person,  taken at the
amount  thereof  accounted  for as  indebtedness  (net of  interest  expense  in
accordance with such principles).

         "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

         "Discounted  Value" shall mean, with respect to the Called Principal of
any Bond, the amount  obtained by discounting all Remaining  Scheduled  Payments
with respect to such Called Principal from their respective  scheduled due dates
to the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal, in accordance with
accepted  financial  practice  and at a  discount  factor  (applied  on the same
periodic  basis as that on which  interest on the Bonds is payable) equal to the
Reinvestment Yield with respect to such Called Principal.

         "ERISA" shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,
as amended.

         "ERISA  Affiliate" shall mean any corporation  which is a member of the
same  controlled  group of  corporations  as the  Company  within the meaning of
section  414(b) of the  Code,  or any trade or  business  which is under  common
control with the Company within the meaning of section 414(c) of the Code.

         "Event of Default"  shall mean any of the following  events which shall
occur and be continuing for any reason  whatsoever  (and whether such occurrence
shall be voluntary or  involuntary  or come about or be effected by operation of
law or otherwise):

                  (i)  the  Company  defaults  in the  payment  of any
         principal  of or  premium,  if any, or sinking  fund  payment
         payable  with  respect to any Bond of the Fourth  Series when
         the same shall  become  due,  either by the terms  thereof or
         otherwise as provided in the Mortgage, the Third Supplemental
         Indenture,  as amended by this Sixth Supplemental  Indenture,
         or the Bond Purchase Agreement; or

                                   12
<PAGE>

                  (ii) the  Company  defaults  in the  payment  of any
         interest  on any Bond of the  Fourth  Series  for more than 5
         days after the due date; or

                  (iii)   the   Company,   Minnesota   Power   or  any
         Significant  Subsidiary  defaults (whether as primary obligor
         or as guarantor or other  surety) in any payment of principal
         of or interest on any other obligation for money borrowed (or
         any  Capitalized  Lease  Obligation,  any obligation  under a
         conditional  sale or other  title  retention  agreement,  any
         obligation  issued or assumed as full or partial  payment for
         property  whether or not secured by a purchase money mortgage
         or any  obligation  under  notes  payable or drafts  accepted
         representing extensions of credit) beyond any period of grace
         provided  with respect  thereto,  or the  Company,  Minnesota
         Power  or any  Significant  Subsidiary  fails to  perform  or
         observe any other agreement,  term or condition  contained in
         any agreement  under which any such obligation is created (or
         if any other  event  thereunder  or under any such  agreement
         shall occur and be continuing) and the effect of such failure
         or other  event is to  cause,  or to  permit  the  holder  or
         holders  of such  obligation  (or a trustee on behalf of such
         holder or holders) to cause,  such  obligation  to become due
         (or to be repurchased by the Company,  Minnesota Power or any
         Significant Subsidiary) prior to any stated maturity; or

                  (iv)  any  representation  or  warranty  made by the
         Company  in the  Third  Supplemental  Indenture,  this  Sixth
         Supplemental  Indenture or the Bond Purchase  Agreement or by
         the Company or any of its  officers in any writing  furnished
         in  connection  with or pursuant  to this Sixth  Supplemental
         Indenture or the Bond  Purchase  Agreement  shall be false in
         any material respect on the date as of which made; or

                  (v) any representation or warranty made by Minnesota
         Power in the  Guaranty  or by  Minnesota  Power or any of its
         officers  in any  writing  furnished  in  connection  with or
         pursuant  to the  Guaranty  shall be  false  in any  material
         respect on the date as of which made; or

                  (vi) the  Company  fails to perform  or observe  any
         agreement,  term or condition contained in the Mortgage,  the
         Third  Supplemental   Indenture,  as  amended  by  the  Sixth
         Supplemental Indenture, or the Bond Purchase Agreement; or

                  (vii)  Minnesota  Power  fails to perform or observe
         any agreement, term or condition contained in the Guaranty or
         the Guaranty shall cease to be in full force

                                   13
<PAGE>


         and  effect  or  otherwise  shall  not  be  enforceable   in
         accordance with its terms or a proceeding  shall be commenced
         by any governmental  agency or authority having  jurisdiction
         over  Minnesota  Power seeking to establish the invalidity or
         unenforceability  of the  Guaranty or  Minnesota  Power shall
         deny that it has any other liability or obligation  under the
         Guaranty; or

                  (viii)   the   Company,   Minnesota   Power  or  any
         Significant Subsidiary makes an assignment for the benefit of
         creditors or is generally  not paying its debts as such debts
         become due; or

                  (ix) any  decree or order for  relief in  respect of
         the Company, Minnesota Power or any Significant Subsidiary is
         entered  under any  bankruptcy,  reorganization,  compromise,
         arrangement, insolvency, readjustment of debt, dissolution or
         liquidation  or similar  law,  whether  now or  hereafter  in
         effect   (herein   called  the   Bankruptcy   Law),   of  any
         jurisdiction; or

                  (x) the Company,  Minnesota Power or any Significant
         Subsidiary  petitions  or applies  to any  tribunal  for,  or
         consents to, the appointment  of, or taking  possession by, a
         trustee, receiver, custodian,  liquidator or similar official
         of  the   Company,   Minnesota   Power  or  any   Significant
         Subsidiary,  or of any Substantial  Part of the assets of the
         Company,  Minnesota Power or any Significant  Subsidiary,  or
         commences a voluntary  case under the  Bankruptcy  Law of the
         United States or any proceedings  (other than proceedings for
         the voluntary  liquidation  and  dissolution of a Significant
         Subsidiary)  relating to the Company,  Minnesota Power or any
         Significant  Subsidiary under the Bankruptcy Law of any other
         jurisdiction; or

                  (xi) any such petition or application  is filed,  or
         any such  proceedings  are  commenced,  against the  Company,
         Minnesota  Power  or  any  Significant   Subsidiary  and  the
         Company,  Minnesota Power or such  Significant  Subsidiary by
         any act indicates its approval  thereof,  consent  thereto or
         acquiescence  therein,  or an  order,  judgment  or decree is
         entered  appointing  any such trustee,  receiver,  custodian,
         liquidator or similar official,  or approving the petition in
         any such proceedings; or

                  (xii) any  order,  judgment  or decree is entered in
         any  proceedings  against  the  Company  or  Minnesota  Power
         decreeing the  dissolution of the Company or Minnesota  Power
         and such order,  judgment or decree  remains  unstayed and in
         effect for more than 60 days; or

                                   14
<PAGE>

                  (xiii) any order,  judgment  or decree is entered in
         any proceedings  against the Company  decreeing a split-up of
         the  Company  which   requires  the   divestiture  of  assets
         representing a Substantial  Part of the assets of the Company
         or which requires the  divestiture of assets which shall have
         contributed  a  Substantial  Part  of the net  income  of the
         Company for any of the three fiscal years then most  recently
         ended,  and such order,  judgment or decree remains  unstayed
         and in effect for more than 60 days; or

                  (xiv) any  order,  judgment  or decree is entered in
         any  proceedings  against  Minnesota Power or any Significant
         Subsidiary  decreeing a split-up of  Minnesota  Power or such
         Significant  Subsidiary  which  requires the  divestiture  of
         assets representing a Substantial Part, or the divestiture of
         the  stock  of  a  MP-Subsidiary  whose  assets  represent  a
         Substantial  Part of the  consolidated  assets  of  Minnesota
         Power and its MP-Subsidiaries  (determined in accordance with
         generally accepted  accounting  principles) or which requires
         the divestiture of assets, or stock of a MP-Subsidiary, which
         shall have contributed a Substantial Part of the consolidated
         net  income  of  Minnesota  Power  and  its   MP-Subsidiaries
         (determined in accordance with generally accepted  accounting
         principles)  for any of the  three  fiscal  years  then  most
         recently  ended,  and such order,  judgment or decree remains
         unstayed and in effect for more than 60 days; or

                  (xv) a final  judgment  in an  amount  in  excess of
         $100,000 is rendered  against the Company or a final judgment
         in an  amount in excess of  $5,000,000  is  rendered  against
         Minnesota Power or any Significant  Subsidiary and, within 60
         days after entry thereof,  such judgment is not discharged or
         execution  thereof stayed pending  appeal,  or within 60 days
         after the  expiration of any such stay,  such judgment is not
         discharged; or

                  (xvi) the  Company  or any  ERISA Affiliate,  in its
         capacity as an employer under a Multiemployer  Plan,  makes a
         complete or partial  withdrawal from such  Multiemployer Plan
         resulting in the incurrence by such withdrawing employer of a
         withdrawal liability in an amount exceeding $100,000;

                  (xvii)  Minnesota Power shall cease to own of record
         and  beneficially  100% of the outstanding  shares of capital
         stock of the Company.

                                   15
<PAGE>


         "Guaranty"  shall mean that  certain  Guarantee  Agreement  dated as of
October 8, 1976, made by Minnesota Power in favor of the holders of the Bonds of
the Fourth Series.

         "MP-Subsidiary"  shall mean any  corporation  at least 51% of the total
combined voting power of all classes of Voting Stock of which shall, at the time
as of which any  determination is being made, be owned by Minnesota Power either
directly or through MP-Subsidiaries.

         "Minnesota  Power" means Minnesota  Power & Light Company,  a Minnesota
corporation.

         "Multiemployer  Plan"  shall mean any Plan  which is a "multi  employer
plan" (as such term is defined in section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA).

         "Payment  Default"  shall  mean  any  default  in  the  payment  of any
principal, interest, premium or sinking fund payment with respect to any Bond of
the Fourth Series when the same shall become due.

         "Person" shall mean and include an individual,  a partnership,  a joint
venture, a corporation, a trust, an unincorporated organization and a government
or any department or agency thereof.

         "Plan" shall mean any "employee  pension benefit plan" (as such term is
defined in section 3 of ERISA) which is or has been  established  or maintained,
or to which  contributions  are or have  been made by the  Company  or any ERISA
Affiliate.

         "Proceeds of Released  Property"  shall mean the  aggregate of the cash
deposited with or received by the Corporate  Trustee  pursuant to the provisions
of Section 59, Section 60, Section 61 (except such cash as is to be paid over to
the Company under the provisions of Section 61), or Section 62 of the Mortgage.

         "Purchaser" means Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company, successor to
Bankers  Life  Company,  and  Century  Life of  America  by  Century  Investment
Management Company, successor to Lutheran Mutual Life Insurance Company.

         "Reinvestment  Yield" shall mean, with respect to the Called  Principal
of any Bond,  the yield to maturity  implied by (i) the yields  reported,  as of
10:00  a.m.  (New  York  City  time)  on the  Business  Day next  preceding  the
Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal, on the display designated
as "Page 678" on the Telerate Service (or such other display as may replace Page
678 on the Telerate Service) for actively traded U.S. Treasury securities having
a maturity  equal to the Remaining  Average Life of such Called  Principal as of
such Settlement Date, or if such yields shall not be reported as of such time or
the  yields  reported  as of such  time  shall  not be  ascertainable,  (ii) the
Treasury Constant

                                   16
<PAGE>

Maturity Series yields reported,  for the latest day for which such yields shall
have been so reported as of the Business Day next preceding the Settlement  Date
with respect to such Called Principal, in Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.
15 (519) (or any  comparable  successor  publication)  for actively  traded U.S.
Treasury  securities  having a constant  maturity equal to the Remaining Average
Life of such Called  Principal as of such  Settlement  Date.  Such implied yield
shall  be  determined,  if  necessary,  by (a)  converting  U.S.  Treasury  bill
quotations  to bond  equivalent  yields in accordance  with  accepted  financial
practice and (b)  interpolating  linearly  between  yields  reported for various
maturities.

         "Remaining  Average  Life"  shall  mean,  with  respect  to the  Called
Principal  of  any  Bond,  the  number  of  years  (calculated  to  the  nearest
one-twelfth  year) obtained by dividing (i) such Called  Principal into (ii) the
sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) each Remaining Scheduled Payment
of such  Called  Principal  (but not of  interest  thereon) by (b) the number of
years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth year) which will elapse between the
Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal and the scheduled due date
of such Remaining Scheduled Payment.

         "Remaining  Scheduled  Payments" shall mean, with respect to the Called
Principal of any Bond,  all  redemption  payments of such Called  Principal  and
interest  thereon  that  would be due on or after the  Settlement  Date from the
sinking  fund  established  pursuant to the Third  Supplemental  Indenture  with
respect to such Called  Principal if no such  redemption  payment of such Called
Principal were made prior to its scheduled due date.

         "Settlement  Date" shall mean, with respect to the Called  Principal of
any Bond, the date on which such Called Principal is to be redeemed.

         "Significant  Subsidiary" shall mean any MP-Subsidiary  (other than the
Company) with consolidated  revenues for its most recently ended fiscal year, as
shown on its  statement of income,  which are greater  than 15% of  consolidated
revenues of Minnesota Power and its MP-Subsidiaries for such fiscal year.

         "Subsidiary"  shall  mean any  corporation  at least  51% of the  total
combined voting power of all classes of Voting Stock of which shall, at the time
as of which any  determination  is being made,  be owned by the  Company  either
directly or through Subsidiaries.

         "Substantial  Part" shall mean when used with  respect to assets or net
income 10% or more of such assets or net income, respectively.

         "Voting Stock" shall mean, with respect to any corporation,  any shares
of stock of such corporation whose holders are entitled

                                   17
<PAGE>

under  ordinary  circumstances  to vote for the  election of  directors  of such
corporation  (irrespective  of whether  at the time stock of any other  class or
classes  shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any
contingency).

         "Yield  Maintenance  Amount" shall mean, in connection  with any of the
Bonds of the  Fourth  Series,  an amount  equal to the  excess,  if any,  of the
Discounted  Value of the Called  Principal of such Bond over the sum of (i) such
Called  Principal plus (ii) interest  accrued thereon as of (including  interest
due on) the  Settlement  Date with respect to such Called  Principal.  The Yield
Maintenance Amount shall in no event be less than zero.

         SECTION 8. Unless  otherwise  defined herein,  the terms defined in the
Mortgage,  as  heretofore  supplemented,  shall for all  purposes  of this Sixth
Supplemental   Indenture  have  the  meanings  specified  in  the  Mortgage,  as
heretofore supplemented.

         SECTION  9. The  Trustees  hereby  accept  the trust  herein  declared,
provided and created and agree to perform the same upon the terms and conditions
herein and in the Mortgage, as heretofore  supplemented,  set forth and upon the
following terms and conditions.

         The Trustees shall not be  responsible in any manner  whatsoever for or
in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Sixth  Supplemental  Indenture
or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are
made by the  Company  solely.  In  general,  each and every  term and  condition
contained in Article  XVII of the Mortgage  shall apply to and form part of this
Sixth Supplemental  Indenture with the same force and effect as if the same were
herein set forth in full,  with such omissions,  variations and  insertions,  if
any, as may be  appropriate  to make the same conform to the  provisions of this
Sixth Supplemental Indenture.

         SECTION 10.  Subject to the  provisions of Article XVI and Article XVII
of the Mortgage and Section 3 of this Sixth Supplemental Indenture,  whenever in
this Sixth Supplemental Indenture any of the parties hereto is named or referred
to, this shall be deemed to include the successors or assigns of such party, and
all the covenants and agreements in this Sixth Supplemental  Indenture contained
by or on behalf of the Company or by or on behalf of the Trustees shall bind and
inure to the benefit of the  respective  successors  and assigns of such parties
whether so expressed or not.

         SECTION 11. Nothing in this Sixth  Supplemental  Indenture,  express or
implied, is intended, or shall be construed,  to confer upon, or to give to, any
person,  firm or  corporation,  other than the parties hereto and the holders of
the bonds Outstanding under the Mortgage, any right, remedy or claim under or by
reason of this

                                   18
<PAGE>
Sixth Supplemental Indenture or any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise or
agreement hereof, and all the covenants, conditions,  stipulations, promises and
agreements of this Sixth Supplemental Indenture contained by or on behalf of the
Company shall be for the sole and exclusive  benefit of the parties hereto,  and
of the holders of the bonds and of the coupons Outstanding under the Mortgage.

          SECTION  12.  This Sixth  Supplemental  Indenture  may be  executed in
several counterparts,  each of which shall be an original and all of which shall
constitute but one and the same instrument.

          IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  Superior  Water,  Light and Power Company, party
hereto of the first part, has caused its corporate name to be hereunto  affixed,
and this  instrument to be signed and sealed by its President or one of its Vice
Presidents, and its corporate seal to be attested by its Secretary or one of its
Assistant  Secretaries  for and on its behalf,  and  Chemical  Bank,  one of the
parties  hereto of the second part, has caused its corporate name to be hereunto
affixed,  and  this  instrument  to be  signed  and  sealed  by one of its  Vice
Presidents and its corporate  seal to be attested by one of its Trust  Officers,
and Peter Morse,  one of the parties hereto of the second part, has hereunto set
his hand and affixed his seal, all as of the day and year first written above.


                                        SUPERIOR WATER, LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY

                                        By:  E.G. McGillis
                                           ------------------------------------
                                             E.G. McGillis, President


Attest:

G.A. Hoffman
- --------------------------
Gary A. Hoffman, Secretary

[SEAL]

Executed, sealed and delivered by
Superior Water, Light, and Power
Company in the presence of:

Janet A. Blake
- --------------------------

- --------------------------

                                   19
<PAGE>



                                               Chemical Bank, as Trustee

                                             By: P.J. Gilkeson
                                                -------------------------------
                                                 P.J. GILKESON, Vice President


[SEAL]

Attest:


M. B. Johnston
- ------------------------------
M. B. Johnston, Trust Officer


Executed, sealed and delivered by
Chemical Bank in the presence of:

Gregory P. Shea
- ------------------------------

- ------------------------------


                                                Peter Morse
                                                -------------------------------
                                                Peter Morse, as Trustee


Executed, sealed and delivered by
Peter Morse in the presence of:

Gregory P. Shea
- ------------------------------

- ------------------------------

                                   20
<PAGE>


STATE OF WISCONSIN           )
                             )   SS.
COUNTY OF DOUGLAS            )


         Personally came before me this 21st day of Mar, 1994, E. G. McGILLIS,
to me known to me the  President,  and  GARY A.  HOFFMAN,  to me known to be the
Secretary  of the  above-named  SUPERIOR  WATER,  LIGHT AND POWER  COMPANY,  the
corporation described in and which executed the foregoing instrument,  and to me
personally  known to be the persons who as such officers  executed the foregoing
instrument  in the name and behalf of said  corporation,  who,  being by me duly
sworn,  did  depose  and say and  acknowledge  that  they are  respectively  the
President  and  Secretary  of said  corporation,  that the seal  affixed to said
instrument  is the  corporate  seal of said  corporation,  and that they signed,
sealed  and  delivered  said  instrument  in the  name  and on  behalf  of  said
corporation by authority of its Board of Directors,  and said E. G. McGILLIS and
GARY A. HOFFMAN,  then and there acknowledged said instrument to be the free act
and deed of said corporation and that such corporation executed the same.

         Given under my hand and notarial seal this 21st day of Mar, 1994.


                                             Janet A. Blake
                                             ---------------------------------
                                             Notary Public, State of Wisconsin
                                             My Commission: 2/16/97
                                             [SEAL]

                                   21
<PAGE>


STATE OF NEW YORK              )
                               )  SS.
COUNTY OF NEW YORK             )

         Personally came before me this 23 day of March 1994, P. J. GILKESON, to
me known to be a Vice President,  and M. B. Johnston, to me known to be a Trust
Officer,  of the above-named  Chemical Bank, the corporation  described in and
which executed the foregoing  instrument,  and to me personally known to be the
persons who as such officers  executed  the  foregoing  instrument  in the name
and  behalf  of said corporation,  who,  being by me duly sworn,  did depose and
say and  acknowledge that  they  are  respectively  a Vice  President  and a
Trust  Officer  of said corporation,  that the seal affixed to said  instrument
is the corporate seal of said corporation,  and that they signed, sealed and
delivered said instrument in the  name  and on  behalf  of said  corporation  by
authority  of its  Board of Directors, and said Vice President and Trust Officer
then and there acknowledged said  instrument to be the free act and deed of said
corporation  and that such corporation executed the same.

         Given under my hand and notarial seal this 23 day of March, 1994.

                                           Annabelle DeLuca
                                           ---------------------------------
                                           Notary Public, State of New York
                                           My Commission:
                                           ANNABELLE DeLUCA
                                           Notary Public, State of New York
                                           NO. 01DE5013759
                                           Qualified in Kings County
                                           Certificate Filed in New York County
                                           Commission Expires July 15, 1995
                                           [SEAL]


STATE OF NEW YORK            )
                             )  SS.
COUNTY OF NEW YORK           )

         Personally  came before me this 23 day of March,  1994 the  above-named
Peter Morse, to me known to be the person who executed the foregoing instrument,
and acknowledged the same.

                                           Annabelle DeLuca
                                           ---------------------------------
                                           Notary Public, State of New York
                                           My Commission:
                                           ANNABELLE DeLUCA
                                           Notary Public, State of New York
                                           NO. 01DE5013759
                                           Qualified in Kings County
                                           Certificate Filed in New York County
                                           Commission Expires July 15, 1995
                                           [SEAL]

THIS INSTRUMENT DRAFTED BY:
- ---------------------------
Attorney William C. Williams
Bell, Metzner, Gierhart & Moore, S. C.
44 East Mifflin Street
P. O. Box 1807
Madison, WI 53701-1807
(608) 257-3764

                                   22
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-4.B.2
<SEQUENCE>4
<DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 4(B)2
<TEXT>



<PAGE>
                                                                 Exhibit 4(b)2
<PAGE>
                                                     Executed in 7 Counterparts
                                                          of which this is
                                                         Counterpart No. 3




                     SUPERIOR WATER, LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY

                                       TO

                                  CHEMICAL BANK

                                       and

                                   PETER MORSE


                     As Trustees Under Superior Water, Light
                 and Power Company's Mortgage and Deed of Trust,
                            Dated as of March 1, 1943




                          ----------------------------
                         SEVENTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
                          ----------------------------





                          Dated as of November 1, 1994

<PAGE>
                         SEVENTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

         INDENTURE,  dated as of the 1st day of November, 1994, made and entered
into by and between  SUPERIOR WATER,  LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY,  a corporation of
the  State of  Wisconsin,  whose  post  office  address  is 1230  Tower  Avenue,
Superior,  Wisconsin 54880 (hereinafter sometimes called the Company),  party of
the first part, and CHEMICAL BANK  (successor to Chemical Bank & Trust Company),
a corporation of the State of New York,  whose principal  corporate trust office
at  the  date  hereof  is 450  West  33rd  Street,  New  York,  New  York  10001
(hereinafter  called the  Corporate  Trustee) , and PETER  MORSE  (successor  to
Howard B. Smith, Russell H. Sherman,  Richard G. Pintard,  Steven F. Lasher, and
C. G. Martens),  whose post office address is 84-26 115th Street, Richmond Hill,
New York 11418 (hereinafter  sometimes called  the Co-Trustee),  parties of the
second part (the Corporate Trustee and the Co-Trustee being hereinafter together
sometimes  called the  Trustees) , as Trustees  under the  Mortgage  and Deed of
Trust  dated  as of March 1,  1943  (hereinafter  called  the  Mortgage),  which
Mortgage was executed and delivered by Superior  Water,  Light and Power Company
to secure the payment of bonds  issued or to be issued  under and in  accordance
with the provisions of the Mortgage, reference to which Mortgage is hereby made,
this Indenture (hereinafter sometimes called the Seventh Supplemental Indenture)
being supplemental thereto;

         WHEREAS,  said  Mortgage  was recorded in the office of the Register of
Deeds in and for Douglas  County,  Wisconsin,  on May 3, 1943,  in Volume 191 of
Mortgages at page 1, Document No. 362844; and

         WHEREAS,  an instrument dated as of September 15, 1949, was executed by
the Company  appointing  Russell H. Sherman as  Co-Trustee in succession to said
Howard B.  Smith,  resigned,  under said  Mortgage  and by  Russell  H.  Sherman
accepting the appointment as Co-Trustee under said Mortgage in succession to the
said  Howard B.  Smith,  which  instrument  was  recorded  in the  office of the
Register of Deeds in and for Douglas County,  Wisconsin,  on October 8, 1949, in
Volume 196 of Mortgages at page 510, Document No. 398649; and

         WHEREAS, by the Mortgage,  the Company covenanted that it would execute
and  deliver  such  supplemental   indenture  or  indentures  and  such  further
instruments  and do such  further  acts as might be necessary or proper to carry
out more  effectively  the  purposes of the  Mortgage and to make subject to the
lien of the Mortgage any property  acquired  after the date of the  execution of
the Mortgage and intended to be subject to the lien thereof; and

         WHEREAS,  the Company  executed and delivered to the Trustees its First
Supplemental Indenture,  dated as of March 1, 1951 (hereinafter called its First
Supplemental  Indenture),  which was  recorded in the office of the  Register of
Deeds in and for Douglas 

<PAGE>

County,  Wisconsin,  on March 30,  1951,  in Volume 205 of Mortgages at page 73,
Document No. 405297; and

         WHEREAS,  an instrument  dated as of May 16, 1961,  was executed by the
Company  appointing  Richard G.  Pintard as  Co-Trustee  in  succession  to said
Russell H.  Sherman,  resigned,  under said  Mortgage  and by Richard G. Pintard
accepting the  appointment  as  Co-Trustee  under said Mortgage in succession to
said  Russell H.  Sherman,  which  instrument  was recorded in the office of the
Register of Deeds in and for Douglas  County,  Wisconsin,  on May 31,  1961,  in
Volume 256 of Mortgages at page 423, Document No. 453857; and

         WHEREAS,  the Company executed and delivered to the Trustees its Second
Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 1, 1962 (hereinafter called its Second
Supplemental  Indenture),  which was  recorded in the office of the  Register of
Deeds in and for Douglas County,  Wisconsin, on March 26, 1962, in Volume 261 of
Mortgages at page 81, Document No. 457662; and

         WHEREAS,  an instrument  dated as of June 23, 1976, was executed by the
Company  appointing Steven F. Lasher as Co-Trustee in succession to said Richard
G. Pintard,  resigned, under said Mortgage and by Steven F. Lasher accepting the
appointment  as Co-Trustee  under said Mortgage in succession to said Richard G.
Pintard, which instrument was recorded in the office of the Register of Deeds in
and for Douglas County, Wisconsin, on July 16, 1976, in Volume 353 of Records at
page 274, Document No. 532495; and

         WHEREAS,  the Company  executed and delivered to the Trustees its Third
Supplemental  Indenture,  dated as of July 1, 1976 (hereinafter called its Third
Supplemental  Indenture),  which was  recorded in the office of the  Register of
Deeds in and for Douglas County, Wisconsin, on October 1, 1976, in Volume 355 of
Records at page 683, Document No. 534332; and

         WHEREAS,  an instrument  dated as of December 30, 1977, was executed by
the Company  appointing C. G. Martens as Co-Trustee in succession to said Steven
F. Lasher,  resigned,  under said  Mortgage and by C. G. Martens  accepting  the
appointment  as  Co-Trustee  under said Mortgage in succession to said Steven F.
Lasher, which instrument was recorded in the office of the Register of Deeds in
and for Douglas  County,  Wisconsin,  on  February  13,  1985,  in Volume 436 of
Records at page 264, Document No. 589308; and

         WHEREAS,  the Company executed and delivered to the Trustees its Fourth
Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 1, 1985 (hereinafter called its Fourth
Supplemental  Indenture),  which was  recorded in the office of the  Register of
Deeds in and for Douglas County,  Wisconsin, on March 19, 1985, in Volume 436 of
Records at page 910, Document No. 589776; and

                                    -2-
<PAGE>

         WHEREAS,  an instrument  dated as of October 26, 1992,  was executed by
the Company  appointing  Peter Morse as  Co-Trustee  in succession to said C. G.
Martens,  resigned,  under  said  Mortgage  and by  Peter  Morse  accepting  the
appointment  as  Co-Trustee  under said  mortgage  in  succession  to said C. G.
Martens, which instrument was recorded in the office of the Register of Deeds in
and for Douglas  County,  Wisconsin,  on  November  13,  1992,  in Volume 539 of
Records at page 9, Document No. 649056; and

         WHEREAS,  the Company  executed and delivered to the Trustees its Fifth
Supplemental  Indenture,  dated as of December 1, 1992  (hereinafter  called its
Fifth Supplemental Indenture) , which was recorded in the office of the Register
of Deeds in and for Douglas County,  Wisconsin,  on December 28, 1992, in Volume
541 of Records at page 229, Document No. 650104; and

         WHEREAS,  the Company  executed and delivered to the Trustees its Sixth
Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 24, 1994 (hereinafter called its Sixth
Supplemental  Indenture),  which was  recorded in the office of the  Register of
Deeds in and for Douglas County,  Wisconsin, on March 29, 1994, in Volume 568 of
Records at page 757, Document No. 662228; and

         WHEREAS,  in addition to the  property  described in the  Mortgage,  as
heretofore supplemented, the Company has acquired certain other property, rights
and interests in property; and

         WHEREAS,  the Company has  heretofore  issued,  in accordance  with the
provisions  of the Mortgage,  bonds of a series  entitled and  designated  First
Mortgage  Bonds,  3 3/8%  Series due 1973  (hereinafter  called the bonds of the
First  Series),  in the aggregate  principal  amount of Two Million Five Hundred
Thousand Dollars  ($2,500,000),  none of which bonds of the First Series are now
Outstanding;  bonds of a series entitled and designated  First Mortgage Bonds, 3
1/10% Series due 1981  (hereinafter  called the bonds of the Second Series),  in
the aggregate  principal  amount of Five Million Dollars  ($5,000,000),  none of
which bonds of the Second Series are now Outstanding; bonds of a series entitled
and designated First Mortgage Bonds, 5% Series due 1992 (hereinafter  called the
bonds of the Third  Series),  in the aggregate  principal  amount of Two Million
Seven Hundred  Thousand Dollars  ($2,700,000),  none of which bonds of the Third
Series are now  Outstanding;  bonds of a series  entitled and  designated  First
Mortgage  Bonds,  9 5/8%  Series due 2001  (hereinafter  called the bonds of the
Fourth  Series) , the interest rate of which bonds were modified to 6.10% by the
Sixth Supplemental Indenture, in the aggregate principal amount of Three Million
Dollars ($3,000,000),  of which One Million, Fifty Thousand Dollars ($1,050,000)
aggregate  principal amount is now  Outstanding;  bonds of a series entitled and
designated First Mortgage Bonds, 12 1/2% Series due 1992 (hereinafter called the
bonds of the Fifth Series),  in the aggregate  principal amount of Three Million
Five Hundred  Thousand  Dollars  ($3,500,000),  none of 

                                    -3-
<PAGE>

which  bonds of the  Fifth  Series  are now  Outstanding;  and bonds of a series
entitled and designated First Mortgage Bonds, 7.91% Series due 2013 (hereinafter
called the bonds of the Sixth  Series) , in the  aggregate  principal  amount of
Five Million Dollars ($5, 000, 000) , of which Four Million, Seven Hundred Fifty
Thousand Dollars ($4,750,000) aggregate principal amount is now Outstanding; and

         WHEREAS,  Sections  101 and 102 of the  Mortgage  provide,  among other
things,  that the  holders of a majority in  principal  amount of the bonds then
Outstanding  may remove and replace any Trustee,  and such  bondholders,  at the
request of the  Company,  wish to replace the  Trustees  with a Trustee with its
principal  office  and place of  business  located  outside  of the  borough  of
Manhattan in the city of New York; and

         WHEREAS,  Section 35 of the Mortgage provides, among other things, that
the  Corporate  Trustee  shall have its  principal  office and place of business
located within the borough of Manhattan in the city of New York; and

         WHEREAS,  the Company now desires to modify the  Mortgage to remove the
restrictions on the location of the principal  office of the Corporate  Trustee,
and to modify other  provisions  of the Mortgage  related to the location of the
Trustee's principal office; and

         WHEREAS,  the  execution  and  delivery by the Company of this  Seventh
Supplemental  Indenture,  and  the  modifications  of the  Mortgage  hereinafter
referred to, have been duly  authorized by the Board of Directors of the Company
by appropriate resolutions of said Board of Directors;

         WHEREAS,  the  amendments  to the  Mortgage  contained  in this Seventh
Supplemental Indenture have been duly approved by the holders of one hundred per
centum (100%) in principal amount of the bonds  outstanding and entitled to vote
thereon.

         NOW, THEREFORE,  THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:  That Superior Water, Light
and Power Company, in consideration of the premises and of One Dollar ($l) to it
duly paid by the  Trustees  at or before the  ensealing  and  delivery  of these
presents, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, and in further evidence of
assurance of the estate,  title and rights of the Trustees and in order  further
to secure the payment both of the principal of and interest and premium, if any,
on the bonds from time to time issued  under the  Mortgage,  according  to their
tenor and effect,  and the  performance  of all the  provisions  of the Mortgage
(including any instruments  supplemental thereto and any modification made as in
the  Mortgage  provided)  and of said bonds,  hereby  grants,  bargains,  sells,
releases,  conveys,  assigns,  transfers,  mortgages,  pledges,  sets  over  and
confirms (subject,  however, to Excepted Encumbrances as defined in Section 6 of
the Mortgage)  unto Peter Morse and (to the 

                                    -4-
<PAGE>

extent of its  legal  capacity  to hold the same for the  Purposes  ,hereof)  to
Chemical  Bank,  as  Trustees  under the  Mortgage,  and to their  successor  or
successors in said trust,  and to said Trustees and their successors and assigns
forever, all and singular the permits,  franchises,  rights, privileges,  grants
and  property,  real,  personal  and mixed,  now owned or which may be hereafter
acquired by the Company  (except any of the character  herein or in the Mortgage
expressly excepted), including (but not limited to) its electric light and power
works, gas works,  water works,  buildings,  structures,  machinery,  equipment,
mains,  pipes,  lines,  poles,  wires,   easements,   rights  of  way,  permits,
franchises,  rights,  privileges,  grants  and all  property  of every  kind and
description,  situated in the City of Superior,  Douglas County,  Wisconsin,  or
elsewhere in Douglas County, Wisconsin, in Washburn County, Wisconsin, or in any
other  place or  places,  now  owned by the  Company,  or that may be  hereafter
acquired  by  it,  including,  but  not  limited  to,  the  following  described
properties of the Company--that is to say:

         All property,  real, personal and mixed,  acquired by the Company after
the date of the execution and delivery of the Mortgage  (except any herein or in
the Mortgage,  as heretofore  supplemented,  expressly  excepted) , now owned or
hereafter acquired by the Company and wheresoever  situated,  including (without
in any way limiting or impairing  by the  enumeration  of the same the scope and
intent of the foregoing or of any general description  contained in this Seventh
Supplemental  Indenture) all lands, power sites,  flowage rights,  water rights,
water  franchises,  water  locations,  water  appropriations,  ditches,  flumes,
reservoirs,  reservoir sites, canals,  raceways, dams, dam sites, aqueducts, and
all other rights or means for  appropriating,  conveying,  storing and supplying
water; all rights of way and roads; all plants, works,  reservoirs and tanks for
the pumping  and  purification  of water;  all water  works;  all plants for the
generation of electricity by water,  steam and/or other power; all power houses,
gas plants,  street lighting systems,  standards and other equipment  incidental
thereto,  telephone, radio and television systems,  air-conditioning systems and
equipment  incidental thereto,  water systems,  steam heat and hot water plants,
substations,  lines,  service and supply  systems,  bridges,  culverts,  tracks,
street and interurban railway systems,  offices,  buildings and other structures
and the equipment thereof;  all machinery,  engines,  boilers,  dynamos,  water,
electric, gas and other machines, regulators, meters, transformers,  generators,
motors, water,  electrical,  gas and mechanical  appliances,  conduits,  cables,
water,  steam,  heat,  gas or other mains and pipes,  service  pipes,  fittings,
valves and  connections,  pole and transmission  lines,  wires,  cables,  tools,
implements,  apparatus,  furniture, chattels and choses in action; all municipal
and other  franchises,  consents or permits;  all lines for the transmission and
distribution of water,  electric  current,  gas, steam heat or hot water for any
purpose,  including towers, poles, wires, cables, pipes, conduits, ducts and all
apparatus for use in connection therewith;  all real estate,  lands,

                                    -5-
<PAGE>

easements, servitudes, licenses, permits, franchises,  privileges, rights of way
and other rights in or relating to real estate or the  occupancy of the same and
(except as herein or in the  Mortgage,  as  heretofore  supplemented,  expressly
excepted)  all the right,  title and interest of the Company in and to all other
property  of any kind or nature  appertaining  to and/or  used  and/or  occupied
and/or enjoyed in connection with any property herein before or in the Mortgage,
as heretofore supplemented, described.

         Together  with  all  and  singular  the  tenements,  hereditaments  and
appurtenances  belonging or in any way appertaining to the aforesaid property or
any part thereof,  with the reversion and  reversions,  remainder and remainders
and (subject to the provisions of Section 57 of the Mortgage) the tolls,  rents,
revenues,  issues,  earnings,  income,  product and profits thereof, and all the
estate,  right,  title and interest and claim  whatsoever,  at law as well as in
equity,  which  the  Company  now  has or may  hereafter  acquire  in and to the
aforesaid property and franchises and every part and parcel thereof.

         It is hereby  agreed by the Company that all the  property,  rights and
franchises  acquired by the Company after the date hereof  (except any herein or
in the Mortgage,  as heretofore  supplemented,  expressly excepted) shall be and
are as fully granted and conveyed  hereby and as fully embraced  within the lien
of the Mortgage as if such property, rights and franchises were now owned by the
Company and were specifically described herein and conveyed hereby.

         Provided  that the  following are not and are not intended to be now or
hereafter granted, bargained, sold, released, conveyed,  assigned,  transferred,
mortgaged,  pledged,  set over or confirmed  hereunder and are hereby  expressly
excepted from the lien and operation of the Mortgage,  via: (1) cash,  shares of
stock,  bonds,  notes and other  obligations and other  securities not hereafter
specifically pledged,  paid, deposited,  delivered or held under the Mortgage or
covenanted so to be; (2) merchandise, equipment, materials or supplies held for
the purpose of sale in the usual  course of business  and fuel,  oil and similar
materials  and supplies  consumable  in the  operation of any  properties of the
Company;  rolling stock,  buses, motor coaches,  automobiles and other vehicles;
(3)  bills,  notes  and  accounts  receivable,  and all  contracts,  leases  and
operating  agreements not specifically  pledged under the Mortgage or covenanted
so to be;  the  last  day of the  term  of any  lease  or  leasehold  which  may
heretofore have or hereafter may become subject to the lien of the Mortgage; (4)
water, electric energy, gas, ice and other materials or products pumped, stored,
generated,  manufactured,  produced  or  purchased  by  the  Company  for  sale,
distribution  or use in the ordinary  course of its business;  (5) the Company's
franchise  to  be a  corporation;  and  (6)  all  permits,  franchises,  rights,
privileges, grants and property in the state of Minnesota now owned or hereafter
acquired  unless  such  permits,  franchises,  rights,  privileges,  grants  and
property in the 

                                    -6-
<PAGE>
state of Minnesota  shall have been  subjected to the lien of the Mortgage by an
indenture or indentures supplemental to the Mortgage,  pursuant to authorization
of the Board of Directors of the Company, whereupon all the permits, franchises,
rights,  privileges,  grants and property then owned or thereafter  acquired the
Company in the state of Minnesota  (except  property of the character  expressly
excepted from the lien of the Mortgage in clauses (1) to (5) above,  inclusive),
shall become and be subject to the lien of the Mortgage as part of the Mortgaged
and Pledged property and may be released, funded and otherwise dealt with on the
same terms and subject to the same  conditions  and  restrictions  as though not
theretofore excepted from the lien of the Mortgage;  provided, however, that the
property  and  rights  expressly  excepted  from the lien and  operation  of the
Mortgage in the above subdivisions (2) and (3) shall (to the extent permitted by
law) cease to be so excepted in the event and as of the date that either or both
of the Trustees or a receiver or trustee shall enter upon and take possession of
the Mortgaged and Pledged Property in the manner provided in Article XIII of the
Mortgage  by reason of the  occurrence  of a Default as defined in Section 65 of
the Mortgage.

         To have and to hold all such  properties,  real,  personal  and  mixed,
granted, bargained, sold, released, conveyed, assigned, transferred,  mortgaged,
pledged,  set over or confirmed by the Company as  aforesaid,  or intended so to
be, unto Peter  Morse and (to the extent of its legal  capacity to hold the same
for the purposes hereof) to Chemical Bank, as Trustees, and their successors and
assigns forever.

         In trust  nevertheless,  for the same purposes and upon the same terms,
trusts and conditions and subject to and with the same provisos and covenants as
are  set  forth  in the  Mortgage,  as  heretofore  supplemented,  this  Seventh
Supplemental Indenture being supplemental thereto.

         And it is  hereby  covenanted  by  the  Company  that  all  the  terms,
conditions,  provisos,  covenants and provisions  contained in the Mortgage,  as
heretofore  supplemented,  shall affect and apply to the property  herein before
described and conveyed and to the estate, rights,  obligations and duties of the
Company and the Trustees and the beneficiaries of the trust with respect to said
property, and to the Trustees and their successors as Trustees of said property,
in the same manner and with the same effect as if said  property  had been owned
by the  Company  at the  time of the  execution  of the  Mortgage,  and had been
specifically  and at length  described  in and  conveyed to the  Trustees by the
Mortgage as part of the property therein stated to be conveyed.

         The Company  further  covenants and agrees to and with the Trustees and
their successors in said trust under the Mortgage as follows:

                                    -7-
<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE I.
                           Amendments to the Mortgage.

         SECTION  1.  Effective  upon  the  date  of this  Seventh  Supplemental
Indenture, the Mortgage shall be amended as follows:

         (A)  subdivision  (a) of Section 35 of Article  VIII of the Mortgage is
amended to read as follows--
         
              (a) That,  whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy
         in the office of the Corporate  Trustee,  the Company will in
         the manner provided in Section 102 hereof appoint a Corporate
         Trustee  so that  there  shall at all  times  be a  Corporate
         Trustee  hereunder  which shall at all times be a corporation
         organized  and doing  business  under the laws of the  United
         States  or of any  State  or  Territory  or the  District  of
         Columbia,  with its  principal  office and place of  business
         within the United  States,  and with a combined  capital  and
         surplus   of   at   least   One   Hundred   Million   Dollars
         ($100,000,000)  (unless  such  trustee is First Bank  (N.A.),
         with its principal office and place of business in Milwaukee,
         Wisconsin,  in which case such trustee  shall have a combined
         capital  and  surplus  of at  least  Thirty  Million  Dollars
         ($30,000,000)),  and  authorized  under such laws to exercise
         corporate   trust  powers  and  subject  to   supervision  or
         examination  by Federal,  State,  Territorial  or District of
         Columbia  authority.  

         (B)  wherever  the  Mortgage  refers  to  providing  notice  in a Daily
Newspaper,  printed in the English language,  and of general  circulation in the
Borough of Manhattan,  The City of New York,  such reference is amended to refer
to  a  Daily  Newspaper,  printed  in  the  English  language,  and  of  general
circulation in the City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

         (C)  subdivision  (a) of Section 82 of Article  XIV and  Section 110 of
Article XIX of the Mortgage are amended by replacing the  references  therein to
"New York" with "Wisconsin".

         (D)  Section 108 of Article XIX of the Mortgage is amended by replacing
the references therein to "the Borough of Manhattan,  The City of New York" with
"the City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin".

         SECTION 2.  Except to the extent  expressly  set forth in this  Seventh
Supplemental Indenture, the Mortgage remains unchanged.

                                    -8-
<PAGE>

                              ARTICLE II.
         Amendments to the Third, Fifth and Sixth Supplemental
          Indentures and the Terms of the Bonds of the Fourth
                           and Sixth Series.

         SECTION  3.  Effective  upon  the  date  of this  Seventh  Supplemental
Indenture,   the  Third  Supplemental   Indenture,   as  amended  by  the  Sixth
Supplemental Indenture, and the terms of the Bonds of the Fourth Series shall be
amended by  replacing  the  references  therein to the  "office or agency of the
Company in the Borough of  Manhattan,  The City of New York" with the "Office or
agency of the Company at the principal office of the Corporate Trustee".

         SECTION  4.  Effective  upon  the  date  of this  Seventh  Supplemental
Indenture,  the Fifth  Supplemental  Indenture and the terms of the Bonds of the
Sixth Series shall be amended by replacing the references therein to the "office
or agency of the Company in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York" with
the "office or agency of the Company at the  principal  office of the  Corporate
Trustee".

         SECTION  5.  Effective  upon  the  date  of this  Seventh  Supplemental
Indenture,  the definition of "Business Day" in the Fifth Supplemental Indenture
and  the  Sixth  Supplemental  Indenture  shall  be  amended  by  replacing  the
references therein to "New York City" with "the state of Wisconsin".

         SECTION 6.  Except to the extent  expressly  set forth in this  Seventh
Supplemental  Indenture,  the Third  Supplemental  Indenture,  as amended by the
Sixth Supplemental Indenture,  the Fifth Supplemental  Indenture,  and the Sixth
Supplemental  Indenture,  and the  terms of the  Bonds of the  Fourth  and Sixth
Series, remain unchanged.


                             ARTICLE III.
                       Miscellaneous Provisions.

         SECTION 7. Unless  otherwise  defined herein,  the terms defined in the
Mortgage,  as  heretofore  supplemented,  shall for all purposes of this Seventh
Supplemental   Indenture  have  the  meanings  specified  in  the  Mortgage,  as
heretofore supplemented.

         SECTION  8. The  Trustees  hereby  accept  the trust  herein  declared,
provided and created and agree to perform the same upon the terms and conditions
herein and in the Mortgage, as heretofore  supplemented,  set forth and upon the
following terms and conditions.

         The Trustees shall not be  responsible in any manner  whatsoever for or
in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Seventh Supplemental Indenture
or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are
made by the  Company  

                                    -9-
<PAGE>

solely.  In general,  each  and every term and  condition  contained in
Article  XVII  of the  Mortgage  shall  apply to and form  part of this
Seventh Supplemental Indenture with the same force and effect as if the
same were herein  set forth in full,  with such  omissions,  variations
and insertions,  if any, as may be appropriate to make the same conform
to the provisions of this Seventh Supplemental Indenture.

         SECTION 9. Subject to the provisions of Article XVI and Article XVII of
the Mortgage, whenever in this Seventh Supplemental Indenture any of the parties
hereto is named or referred  to, this shall be deemed to include the  successors
or assigns of such party,  and all the covenants and  agreements in this Seventh
Supplemental  Indenture  contained  by or on behalf of the  Company  or by or on
behalf of the  Trustees  shall bind and inure to the  benefit of the  respective
successors and assigns of such parties whether so expressed or not.

         SECTION 10. Nothing in this Seventh Supplemental Indenture,  express or
implied, is intended, or shall be construed,  to confer upon, or to give to, any
person,  firm or  corporation,  other than the parties hereto and the holders of
the bonds Outstanding under the Mortgage, any right, remedy or claim under or by
reason  of this  Seventh  Supplemental  Indenture  or any  covenant,  condition,
stipulation,  promise or agreement  hereof,  and all the covenants,  conditions,
stipulations,  promises and  agreements of this Seventh  Supplemental  Indenture
contained  by or on behalf of the  Company  shall be for the sole and  exclusive
benefit  of the  parties  hereto,  and of the  holders  of the  bonds and of the
coupons Outstanding under the Mortgage.

         SECTION  11. This  Seventh  Supplemental  Indenture  may be executed in
several counterparts,  each of which shall be an original and all of which shall
constitute but one and the same instrument.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  Superior  Water,  Light and Power Company,  party
hereto of the first part, has caused its corporate name to be hereunto  affixed,
and this  instrument to be signed and sealed by its President or one of its Vice
Presidents, and its corporate seal to be attested by its Secretary or one of its
Assistant  Secretaries  for and on its behalf,  and  Chemical  Bank,  one of the
parties  hereto of the second part, has caused its corporate name to be hereunto
affixed,  and  this  instrument  to be  signed  and  sealed  by one of its  Vice
Presidents  and its  corporate  seal to be  attested  by one of its ___________,
and  Peter Morse,  one of the parties  hereto of the second part, has hereunto 
set his hand and affixed his seal, all as 

                                    -10-
<PAGE>

of the day and year first written above.

                                        SUPERIOR WATER, LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY

                                        By:   E.G. McGillis
                                           ------------------------------------
                                              E.G. McGillis, President


Attest:

G.A. Hoffman
- --------------------------------
Gary A. Hoffman, Secretary


Executed, sealed and delivered by
Superior Water, Light and Power
Company in the presence of:

Janet A. Blake
- --------------------------------

Brenda L. Jahr
- --------------------------------


                                           Chemical Bank, as Trustee

                                        By:   P.J. Gilkeson
                                           ------------------------------------
                                              P.J. GILKESON, Vice President

Attest:

L. O'Brien
- --------------------------------
L. O'Brien, Assistant Secretary
- ----------  --------------------


Executed, sealed and delivered by
Chemical Bank in the presence of:

Gregory P. Shea
- --------------------------------

P. Morabito
- --------------------------------

                                           Peter Morse
                                           ------------------------------------
                                           Peter Morse, as Trustee


Executed, and delivered by 
Peter Morse in the presence of:

/s/ Illegible
- --------------------------------

/s/ Illegible
- --------------------------------


                                    -11-

<PAGE>


STATE OF WISCONSIN      )
                        )  SS.
COUNTY OF DOUGLAS       )



         Personally  came  before  me this  15th  day of  November  1994,  E. G.
McGILLIS,  to me known to be the President,  and GARY A. HOFFMAN, to me known to
be the Secretary of the above-named SUPERIOR WATER, LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY, the
corporation described in and which executed the foregoing instrument,  and to me
personally  known to be the persons who as such officers  executed the foregoing
instrument  in the name and behalf of said  corporation,  who,  being by me duly
sworn,  did  depose  and say and  acknowledge  that  they are  respectively  the
President  and  Secretary  of said  corporation,  that the seal  affixed to said
instrument  is the  corporate  seal of said  corporation,  and that they signed,
sealed  and  delivered  said  instrument  in the  name  and on  behalf  of  said
corporation by authority of its Board of Directors,  and said E. G. MCGILLIS and
GARY A. HOFFMAN,  then and there acknowledged said instrument to be the free act
and deed of said corporation and that such corporation executed the same.

         Given under my hand and notarial seal this 15th day of November, 1994.


                                              Janet A. Blake
                                              ---------------------------------
                                              Notary Public, State of Wisconsin
                                              My Commission expires 2/16/97

                                    -12-

<PAGE>



STATE OF NEW YORK      )
                       )   SS.
COUNTY OF NEW YORK     )

         Personally  came  before  me  this  6th  day of  January,  1995,  P. J.
Gilkeson, to me known to be a Vice President,  and L. O'Brien, to me known to be
a Assistant  Secretary,  of the  above-named  Chemical  Bank,  the  corporation
described in and which executed the foregoing  instrument,  and to me personally
known to be the persons who as such officers  executed the foregoing  instrument
in the name and behalf of said  corporation,  who,  being by me duly sworn,  did
depose and say and acknowledge that they are respectively a Vice President and a
Assistant  Secretary  of  said  corporation,  that  the  seal  affixed  to  said
instrument  is the  corporate  seal of said  corporation,  and that they signed,
sealed  and  delivered  said  instrument  in the  name  and on  behalf  of  said
corporation by authority of its Board of Directors,  and said Vice President and
Assistant  Secretary then and there  acknowledged said instrument to be the free
act and deed of said corporation and that such corporation executed the same.

         Given under my hand and notarial seal this 6th day of January, 1995.


                                           Annabelle DeLuca
                                           ---------------------------------
                                           Notary Public, State of New York
                                           My Commission:
                                           ANNABELLE DeLUCA
                                           Notary Public, State of New York
                                           NO. 01DE5013759
                                           Qualified in Kings County
                                           Certificate Filed in New York County
                                           Commission Expires July 15, 1995
                                          

                                    -13-
<PAGE>
AUTHENTICATION OF EXECUTION BY PETER MORSE


THIS INSTRUMENT DRAFTED BY:
- ---------------------------
Attorney William C. Williams
Bell, Metzner, Gierhart & Moore, S. C.
44 East Mifflin Street
P. O. Box 1807
Madison, WI 53701-1807
(608) 257-3764

                                    -14-

<PAGE>

UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITIAN     )

CITY OF LONDON          ENGLAND     )  SS.

     

         On  this  ninth  day  of  December  One   thousand   nine  hundred  and
ninety-four, personally came before me PETER MORSE, to me known to be the person
described in and who executed the foregoing Instrument, and acknowledged that he
executed the same.


                                        Richard Graham Rosser

                                        RICHARD GRAHAM ROSSER
                                        NOTARY PUBLIC, LONDON


                                        My commission expires with life

     [SEAL]                             [SEAL]
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-4.B.3
<SEQUENCE>5
<DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 4(B)3
<TEXT>


<PAGE>
                                                                 Exhibit 4(b)3
<PAGE>
================================================================================

                     SUPERIOR WATER, LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY
                      1230 Tower Avenue, Superior, WI 54880



                                       To



                                FIRST BANK (N.A.)



                As Corporate Trustee Under Superior Water, Light
                 and Power Company's Mortgage and Deed of Trust,
                            Dated as of March 1, 1943


                    -----------------------------------------
                          EIGHTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
                    -----------------------------------------


                           Dated as of January 1, 1997



================================================================================


This instrument drafted by
James E. Jenz
CHAPMAN AND CUTLER
Chicago, Illinois

<PAGE>
                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

Section                            Heading                                 Page

Parties.......................................................................1

Recitals......................................................................1

ARTICLE I                  BONDS OF THE SEVENTH SERIES........................7
   Section 1.1................................................................7

ARTICLE II                 COVENANTS AND RESTRICTIONS........................10
         Section 2.1.........................................................10
         Section 2.2.........................................................10
         Section 2.3.........................................................10
         Section 2.4.........................................................10

ARTICLE III                MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS..........................10
         Section 3.1.........................................................10
         Section 3.2.........................................................14
         Section 3.3.........................................................14
         Section 3.4.........................................................14
         Section 3.5.........................................................14
         Section 3.6.........................................................15

Signature Page...............................................................16

ATTACHMENTS TO SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE:

EXHIBIT  A - Form of Bond of the  Seventh  Series

EXHIBIT  B - Assignment  and Irrevocable Bond Power



                                   -i-
<PAGE>
                          EIGHTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

        INDENTURE,  dated as of the 1st day of January  1997,  made and  entered
into by and between  SUPERIOR WATER,  LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY,  a corporation of
the State of Wisconsin, whose address is 1230 Tower Avenue, Superior,  Wisconsin
54880 (the  "Company")  and FIRST BANK (N.A.)  (successor  to Chemical  Bank, as
Corporate  Trustee,  and  Peter  Morse,  as  Co-Trustee),   a  national  banking
association,  whose  principal  trust  office  at the  date  hereof  is 201 West
Wisconsin  Avenue,  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin  53259 (the "Corporate  Trustee"),  as
Corporate Trustee under the Mortgage and Deed of Trust dated as of March 1, 1943
(hereinafter  called the "Mortgage"),  which Mortgage was executed and delivered
by the Company to secure the payment of bonds  issued or to be issued  under and
in accordance  with the provisions of the Mortgage,  reference to which Mortgage
is hereby made,  this Eighth  Supplemental  Indenture (the "Eighth  Supplemental
Indenture") being supplemental thereto;

         WHEREAS,  said  Mortgage  was recorded in the office of the Register of
Deeds in and for Douglas  County,  Wisconsin,  on May 3, 1943,  in Volume 191 of
Mortgages at page 1, Document No. 362844; and

         WHEREAS,  an instrument dated as of September 15, 1949, was executed by
the Company  appointing  Russell H. Sherman as  Co-Trustee in succession to said
Howard B.  Smith,  resigned,  under said  Mortgage,  and by  Russell H.  Sherman
accepting the appointment as Co-Trustee under said Mortgage in succession to the
said  Howard B.  Smith,  which  instrument  was  recorded  in the  office of the
Register of Deeds in and for Douglas County,  Wisconsin,  on October 8, 1949, in
Volume 196 of Mortgages at page 510, Document No. 398649; and

         WHEREAS, by the Mortgage,  the Company covenanted that it would execute
and  deliver  such  supplemental   indenture  or  indentures  and  such  further
instruments  and do such  further  acts as might be necessary or proper to carry
out more  effectively  the  purposes of the  Mortgage and to make subject to the
lien of the Mortgage any property  acquired  after the date of the  execution of
the Mortgage and intended to be subject to the lien thereof; and

         WHEREAS,  the Company  executed and  delivered  its First  Supplemental
Indenture, dated as of March 1, 1951 (hereinafter called its "First Supplemental
Indenture"),  which was  recorded in the office of the  Register of Deeds in and
for Douglas County,  Wisconsin, on March 30, 1951, in Volume 205 of Mortgages at
page 73, Document No. 405297; and

         WHEREAS,  an instrument  dated as of May 16, 1961,  was executed by the
Company  appointing  Richard G.  Pintard as  Co-Trustee  in  succession  to said
Russell H.  Sherman,  resigned,  under said  Mortgage  and by Richard G. Pintard
accepting the  appointment  as  Co-Trustee  under said Mortgage in succession to
said  Russell H.  Sherman,  which  instrument  was recorded in the office of the
Register of Deeds in and for Douglas  County,  Wisconsin,  on May 31,  1961,  in
Volume 256 of Mortgages at page 423, Document No. 453857; and

<PAGE>

         WHEREAS,  the Company  executed and delivered  its Second  Supplemental
Indenture,   dated  as  of  March  1,  1962  (hereinafter   called  its  "Second
Supplemental  Indenture"),  which was  recorded in the office of the Register of
Deeds in and for Douglas County,  Wisconsin, on March 26, 1962, in Volume 261 of
Mortgages at page 81, Document No. 457662; and

         WHEREAS,  an instrument  dated as of June 23, 1976, was executed by the
Company  appointing Steven F. Lasher as Co-Trustee in succession to said Richard
G. Pintard,  resigned, under said Mortgage and by Steven F. Lasher accepting the
appointment  as Co-Trustee  under said Mortgage in succession to said Richard G.
Pintard, which instrument was recorded in the office of the Register of Deeds in
and for Douglas County, Wisconsin, on July 16, 1976, in Volume 353 of Records at
page 274, Document No. 532495; and

        WHEREAS,  the Company  executed  and  delivered  its Third  Supplemental
Indenture,  dated as of July 1, 1976 (hereinafter called its "Third Supplemental
Indenture"),  which was  recorded in the office of the  Register of Deeds in and
for Douglas County,  Wisconsin,  on October 1, 1976, in Volume 355 of Records at
page 683, Document No. 534332; and

         WHEREAS,  an instrument  dated as of December 30, 1977, was executed by
the Company  appointing C. G. Martens as Co-Trustee in succession to said Steven
F. Lasher,  resigned,  under said  Mortgage and by C. G. Martens  accepting  the
appointment  as  Co-Trustee  under said Mortgage in succession to said Steven F.
Lasher,  which instrument was recorded in the office of the Register of Deeds in
and for Douglas  County,  Wisconsin,  on  February  13,  1985,  in Volume 436 of
Records at page 264, Document No. 589308; and

         WHEREAS,  the Company  executed and delivered  its Fourth  Supplemental
Indenture,   dated  as  of  March  1,  1985  (hereinafter   called  its  "Fourth
Supplemental  Indenture"),  which was  recorded in the office of the Register of
Deeds in and for Douglas County,  Wisconsin, on March 19, 1985, in Volume 436 of
Records at page 910, Document No. 589776; and

         WHEREAS,  an instrument  dated as of October 26, 1992,  was executed by
the Company  appointing  Peter Morse as  Co-Trustee  in succession to said C. G.
Martens,  resigned,  under  said  Mortgage  and by  Peter  Morse  accepting  the
appointment  as  Co-Trustee  under said  Mortgage  in  succession  to said C. G.
Martens, which instrument was recorded in the office of the Register of Deeds in
and for Douglas  County,  Wisconsin,  on  November  13,  1992,  in Volume 539 of
Records at page 9, Document No. 649056; and

         WHEREAS,  the Company  executed and  delivered  its Fifth  Supplemental
Indenture,  dated  as of  December  1,  1992,  (hereinafter  called  its  "Fifth
Supplemental  Indenture"),  which was  recorded in the office of the Register of
Deeds in and for Douglas County,  Wisconsin, on December 28, 1992, in Volume 541
of Records at page 229, Document No. 650104; and

         WHEREAS,  the Company  executed and  delivered  its Sixth  Supplemental
Indenture,   dated  as  of  March  24,  1994  (hereinafter   called  its  "Sixth
Supplemental  Indenture"),  which was  recorded in the office of the Register of
Deeds in and for Douglas County,  Wisconsin, on March 29, 1994, in Volume 568 of
Records at page 757, Document No. 662228; and

                                    -2-
<PAGE>
         WHEREAS,  the Company  executed and delivered its Seventh  Supplemental
Indenture,  dated as of  November  1,  1994  (hereinafter  called  its  "Seventh
Supplemental  Indenture"),  which was  recorded in the office of the Register of
Deeds in and for Douglas County,  Wisconsin,  on January 18, 1995, in Volume 583
of Records at page 242, Document No. 669350; and

         WHEREAS,  an instrument  dated as of January 20, 1995,  was executed by
The  Prudential  Insurance  Company  pursuant  to  Section  102 of the  Mortgage
appointing First Bank (N.A.) as Corporate Trustee in succession to Chemical Bank
as Corporate  Trustee and Peter Morse as  Co-Trustee  under said Mortgage and by
First Bank (N.A.),  accepting the  appointment  as Corporate  Trustee under such
Mortgage  in  succession  to said  Chemical  Bank and said  Peter  Morse,  which
instrument  was  recorded  in the  Office  of the  Register  of Deeds in and for
Douglas County, Wisconsin on April 6, 1995 in Volume 585 of Records at page 953,
Document No. 670717; and

         WHEREAS,  in addition to the  property  described in the  Mortgage,  as
heretofore supplemented, the Company has acquired certain other property, rights
and interests in property; and

         WHEREAS,  the Company has  heretofore  issued,  in accordance  with the
provisions  of the Mortgage,  bonds of a series  entitled and  designated  First
Mortgage Bonds, 3 3/8% Series due 1973 (the "Bonds of the First Series"), in the
aggregate  principal  amount  of  Two  Million  Five  Hundred  Thousand  Dollars
($2,500,000), none of which Bonds of the First Series are now Outstanding; bonds
of a series  entitled and designated  First  Mortgage  Bonds, 3 1/10% Series due
1981 (the "Bonds of the Second  Series"),  in the aggregate  principal amount of
Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000),  none of which Bonds of the Second Series are
now Outstanding; bonds of a series entitled and designated First Mortgage Bonds,
5% Series due 1992 (the "Bonds of the Third Series"), in the aggregate principal
amount of Two Million Seven Hundred Thousand Dollars ($2,700,000), none of which
Bonds of the Third Series are now  outstanding;  bonds of a series  entitled and
designated  First  Mortgage  Bonds,  9 5/8%  Series due 2001 (the  "Bonds of the
Fourth Series"),  the interest rate for which bonds was modified to 6.10% by the
Sixth Supplemental Indenture, in the aggregate principal amount of Three Million
Dollars  ($3,000,000),  of which  $750,000  aggregate  principal  amount  is now
outstanding;  bonds of a series entitled and designated First Mortgage Bonds, 12
1/2%  Series  due 1992  (the  "Bonds  of the Fifth  Series"),  in the  aggregate
principal amount of Three Million Five Hundred  Thousand  Dollars  ($3,500,000),
none of which  Bonds of the Fifth  Series  are now  outstanding;  and Bonds of a
series entitled and designated First Mortgage Bonds,  7.91% Series due 2013 (the
"Bonds of the Sixth Series"),  in the aggregate principal amount of Five Million
Dollars  ($5,000,000)  of which  $4,250,000  aggregate  principal  amount is now
outstanding; and

         WHEREAS,  Section  8 of the  Mortgage  provides  that  the form of each
series  of bonds  (other  than the  First  Series)  issued  thereunder  shall be
established  by Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company and that the
form of such series,  as established  by said Board of Directors,  shall specify
the descriptive title of the bonds and various other terms

                                    -3-
<PAGE>
thereof,  and may  also  contain  such  provisions  not  inconsistent  with  the
provisions  of the  Mortgage as the Board of Directors  may, in its  discretion,
cause to be inserted therein; and

         WHEREAS, Section 120 of the Mortgage provides, among other things, that
the Company may enter into any further  covenants,  limitations or  restrictions
for the benefit of any one or more  series of bonds  issued  thereunder,  or the
Company may establish the terms and provisions of any series of bonds other than
said First Series,  by an instrument in writing executed and acknowledged by the
Company in such manner as would be  necessary  to entitle a  conveyance  of real
estate to be of record in all of the  states in which any  property  at the time
subject to the lien of the Mortgage shall be situated; and

         WHEREAS, the Company now desires to create a new series of bonds and to
add to the  covenants,  limitations  or  restrictions  contained in the Mortgage
certain other covenants, limitations or restrictions to be observed by it and to
amend the Mortgage; and

         WHEREAS,  the  execution  and  delivery  by the  Company of this Eighth
Supplemental  Indenture,  and the  terms  of the  Bonds  of the  Seventh  Series
hereinafter  referred to, have been duly authorized by the Board of Directors of
the Company by appropriate resolutions of said Board of Directors.

         Now, THEREFORE,  THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:  That Superior Water, Light
and Power Company, in consideration of the premises and of One Dollar ($1) to it
duly paid by the  Corporate  Trustee at or before the  ensealing and delivery of
these  presents,  the  receipt  whereof is hereby  acknowledged,  and in further
evidence of assurance of the estate,  title and rights of the Corporate  Trustee
and in order further to secure the payment both of the principal of and interest
and premium,  if any, on the bonds from time to time issued under the  Mortgage,
according to their tenor and effect,  and the  performance of all the provisions
of  the  Mortgage  (including  any  instruments  supplemental  thereto  and  any
modification made as in the Mortgage provided) and of said bonds, hereby grants,
bargains, sells, releases, conveys, assigns, transfers, mortgages, pledges, sets
over and confirms  (subject,  however,  to Excepted  Encumbrances  as defined in
Section 6 of the Mortgage)  unto First Bank (N.A.),  as Corporate  Trustee under
the Mortgage,  and to its  successor or  successors  in said trust,  and to said
Corporate  Trustee and its successors and assigns forever,  all and singular the
permits, franchises, rights, privileges, grants and property, real, personal and
mixed,  now owned or which may be hereafter  acquired by the Company (except any
of the character herein or in the Mortgage expressly  excepted),  including (but
not limited to) its  electric  light and power  works,  gas works,  water works,
buildings, structures,  machinery, equipment, mains, pipes, lines, poles, wires,
easements, rights of way, permits,  franchises,  rights, privileges,  grants and
all  property of every kind and  description,  situated in the City of Superior,
Douglas  County,  Wisconsin,  or  elsewhere  in Douglas  County,  Wisconsin,  in
Washburn  County,  Wisconsin,  or in any other  place or places now owned by the
Company, or that may be hereafter acquired by it, including, but not limited to,
the following described properties of the Company--that is to say:

        All property,  real,  personal and mixed,  acquired by the Company after
the date of the execution and delivery of the Mortgage  (except any herein or in
the Mortgage, as heretofore

                                    -4-
<PAGE>
supplemented,  expressly  excepted),  now  owned or  hereafter  acquired  by the
Company and  wheresoever  situated,  including  (without in any wise limiting or
impairing by the  enumeration  of the same the scope and intent of the foregoing
or of any general description  contained in this Eighth Supplemental  Indenture)
all lands, power sites, flowage rights,  water rights,  water franchises,  water
locations, water appropriations,  ditches, flumes, reservoirs,  reservoir sites,
canals,  raceways, dams, dam sites, aqueducts, and all other rights or means for
appropriating,  conveying,  storing and supplying  water;  all rights of way and
roads; all plants, works,  reservoirs and tanks for the pumping and purification
of water;  all water works;  all plants for the  generation  of  electricity  by
water, steam and/or other power; all power houses,  gas plants,  street lighting
systems, standards and other equipment incidental thereto,  telephone, radio and
television systems,  air-conditioning  systems and equipment incidental thereto,
water systems, steam heat and hot water plants, substations,  lines, service and
supply  systems,  bridges,  culverts,  tracks,  street  and  interurban  railway
systems, offices,  buildings and other structures and the equipment thereof; all
machinery,  engines,  boilers, dynamos, water, electric, gas and other machines,
regulators, meters, transformers, generators, motors, water, electrical, gas and
mechanical appliances,  conduits, cables, water, steam, heat, gas or other mains
and  pipes,  service  pipes,   fittings,   valves  and  connections,   pole  and
transmission lines, wires,  cables,  tools,  implements,  apparatus,  furniture,
chattels and choses in action;  all municipal and other franchises,  consents or
permits;  all lines for the  transmission  and  distribution of water,  electric
current, gas, steam heat or hot water for any purpose,  including towers, poles,
wires, cables,  pipes,  conduits,  ducts and all apparatus for use in connection
therewith;  all real estate, lands, easements,  servitudes,  licenses,  permits,
franchises,  privileges,  rights of way and other  rights in or relating to real
estate or the occupancy of the same and (except as herein or in the Mortgage, as
heretofore  supplemented,  expressly excepted) all the right, title and interest
of the Company in and to all other  property of any kind or nature  appertaining
to and/or used and/or  occupied  and/or enjoyed in connection  with any property
hereinbefore or in the Mortgage, as heretofore supplemented, described.

         Together  with  all  and  singular  the  tenements,  hereditaments  and
appurtenances belonging or in any wise appertaining to the aforesaid property or
any part thereof,  with the reversion and  reversions,  remainder and remainders
and (subject to the provisions of Section 57 of the Mortgage) the tolls,  rents,
revenues,  issues,  earnings,  income,  product and profits thereof, and all the
estate,  right,  title and interest and claim  whatsoever,  at law as well as in
equity,  which  the  Company  now  has or may  hereafter  acquire  in and to the
aforesaid property and franchises and every part and parcel thereof.

         It is hereby  agreed by the Company that all the  property,  rights and
franchises  acquired by the Company after the date hereof  (except any herein or
in the Mortgage,  as heretofore  supplemented,  expressly excepted) shall be and
are as fully granted and conveyed  hereby and as fully embraced  within the lien
of the Mortgage as if such property, rights and franchises were now owned by the
Company and were specifically described herein and conveyed hereby.

         Provided  that the  following are not and are not intended to be now or
hereafter granted, bargained, sold, released, conveyed,  assigned,  transferred,
mortgaged, pledged, set

                                    -5-
<PAGE>
over or confirmed  hereunder and are hereby expressly excepted from the lien and
operation of the Mortgage,  viz: (1) cash,  shares of' stock,  bonds,  notes and
other obligations and other securities not hereafter specifically pledged, paid,
deposited,  delivered  or held under the  Mortgage or  covenanted  so to be; (2)
merchandise,  equipment,  materials or supplies  held for the purpose of sale in
the usual course of business and fuel,  oil and similar  materials  and supplies
consumable in the operation of any  properties  of the Company;  rolling  stock,
buses,  motor coaches,  automobiles  and other  vehicles;  (3) bills,  notes and
accounts  receivable,  and all  contracts,  leases and operating  agreements not
specifically  pledged under the Mortgage or covenanted so to be; the last day of
the term of any lease or leasehold  which may  heretofore  have or hereafter may
become subject to the lien of the Mortgage; (4) water, electric energy, gas, ice
and  other  materials  or  products  pumped,  stored,  generated,  manufactured,
produced  or  purchased  by the  Company  for sale,  distribution  or use in the
ordinary  course  of  its  business;   (5)  the  Company's  franchise  to  be  a
corporation;  and (6) all permits,  franchises,  rights, privileges,  grants and
property in the state of Minnesota now owned or hereafter  acquired  unless such
permits,  franchises,  rights,  privileges,  grants and property in the state of
Minnesota  shall have been subjected to the lien of the Mortgage by an indenture
or indentures  supplemental to the Mortgage,  pursuant to  authorization  of the
Board of  Directors  of the  Company,  whereupon  all the  permits,  franchises,
rights, privileges, grants and property then owned or thereafter acquired by the
Company in the state of Minnesota  (except  property of the character  expressly
excepted from the lien of the Mortgage in clauses (1) to (5) above,  inclusive),
shall become and be subject to the lien of the Mortgage as part of the Mortgaged
and Pledged Property and may be released, funded and otherwise dealt with on the
same terms and subject to the same  conditions  and  restrictions  as though not
theretofore excepted from the lien of the Mortgage;  provided, however, that the
property  and  rights  expressly  excepted  from the lien and  operation  of the
Mortgage in the above subdivisions (2) and (3) shall (to the extent permitted by
law) cease to be so excepted in the event and as of the date that the  Corporate
Trustee or a receiver  or trustee  shall enter upon and take  possession  of the
Mortgaged  and Pledged  Property in the manner  provided in Article  XIII of the
Mortgage  by reason of the  occurrence  of a Default as defined in Section 65 of
the Mortgage.

         To have and to hold all such  properties,  real,  personal  and  mixed,
granted, bargained, sold, released, conveyed, assigned,  transferred,  mortgaged
pledged,  set over or confirmed by the Company as  aforesaid,  or intended so to
be, unto First Bank (N.A.) as Corporate Trustee,  and its successors and assigns
forever.

         In trust  nevertheless,  for the same purposes and upon the same terms,
trusts and conditions and subject to and with the same provisos and covenants as
are  set  forth  in  the  Mortgage,  as  heretofore  supplemented,  this  Eighth
Supplemental Indenture being supplemental thereto.

         And it is  hereby  covenanted  by  the  Company  that  all  the  terms,
conditions,  provisos,  covenants and provisions  contained in the Mortgage,  as
heretofore  supplemented,  shall affect and apply to the  property  hereinbefore
described and conveyed and to the estate, rights,  obligations and duties of the
Company  and the  Corporate  Trustee  and the  beneficiaries  of the trust  with
respect to said property, and to the Corporate Trustee and its successors as

                                    -6-
<PAGE>
Corporate Trustee of said property,  in the same manner and with the same effect
as if said  property had been owned by the Company at the time of the  execution
of the  Mortgage,  and had been  specifically  and at  length  described  in and
conveyed  to the  Corporate  Trustee  by the  Mortgage  as part of the  property
therein stated to be conveyed.

         The  Company  further  covenants  and agrees to and with the  Corporate
Trustee and its successors in said trust under the Mortgage as follows:


                                    ARTICLE I
                           BONDS OF THE SEVENTH SERIES

         Section 1.1. There shall be a seventh series of bonds designated "First
Mortgage  Bonds,  7.27% Series due December 15, 2008" (the "Bonds of the Seventh
Series"), which shall be limited to $6,000,000 aggregate principal amount, shall
mature on  December  15,  2008,  and shall be issued as fully  registered  bonds
without  coupons in the  denominations  of $1,000 or any multiple  thereof.  The
Bonds of the Seventh  Series  shall bear  interest  (computed  on the basis of a
360-day  year of twelve  30-day  months)  at the rate of seven and  twenty-seven
hundredths  percent  (7.27%)  per annum,  payable  semi-annually  on June 15 and
December 15 of each year,  commencing  June 15, 1997 and at the rate of nine and
twenty-seven  hundredths  percent  (9.27%) per annum on any  overdue  payment of
principal or premium,  if any, and, to the extent  enforceable  under applicable
law, on any overdue  payment of interest.  The Bonds of the Seventh Series shall
be numbered  R-1 and upward and  otherwise  shall be  substantially  in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit A. Except as hereinafter provided,  the principal of,
and the premium,  if any,  and the interest on, the Bonds of the Seventh  Series
shall be payable in such coin or currency of the United  States of America as at
the time of payment shall be legal tender for public and private  debts,  at the
office or agency  of the  Company  in the City of  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin  or the
office of the Company in Superior, Wisconsin.

         Notwithstanding  any  provision  to the contrary in the Mortgage or the
Bonds of the  Seventh  Series,  the  first  paragraph  of  Section 9 of the Bond
Purchase Agreement shall govern the method of payment of principal,  premium, if
any,  and  interest on the Bonds of the Seventh  Series to the holders  thereof;
provided, however, that the Corporate Trustee shall have no obligation to comply
with the provisions of Section 9 with respect to any transferee of the Purchaser
or any other holder of the Bonds of the Seventh Series until such  transferee or
holder  shall have made the  agreement  described  in Section 9. Subject to such
proviso,  the  Corporate  Trustee  hereby  consents  to the  method  of  payment
described in Section 9. The Corporate Trustee shall not be liable or responsible
to any holder of Bonds of the Seventh Series entitled to the benefits of Section
9 or to any transferee  thereof or to the Company for any act or omission to act
on the part of the Company or any such holder of Bonds of the Seventh  Series in
connection with Section 9. The Company hereby  indemnifies the Corporate Trustee
against all liabilities, if any, resulting from acts or omissions on its part or
on the part of the Company in connection with Section 9.

         The  Bonds  of the  Seventh  Series  shall  be  dated as of the date of
authentication  thereof by the Corporate Trustee (except that if any Bond of the
Seventh Series shall be

                                    -7-

<PAGE>

authenticated on an interest payment date for the Bonds of the Seventh Series to
which interest has been paid,  such Bond shall be dated as of the day following)
and shall bear interest from the fifteenth day of June or December,  as the case
may be, next  preceding  the date of such Bond to which  interest has been paid;
provided,  however, that if any such Bond shall be authenticated before June 15,
1997,  such Bond shall bear interest from the date of the original  issue of the
Bonds of the Seventh Series;  and provided  further that if the Company shall at
the time of the  authentication  of any Bond of the Seventh Series be in default
in the payment of interest upon the Bonds of the Seventh Series, such Bond shall
be dated as of, and shall bear interest  from,  the date of the beginning of the
period for which such interest is so in default.

         Upon notice as provided in the  following  paragraph,  the Bonds of the
Seventh  Series may be redeemed  prior to  maturity,  in whole at any time or in
part (in multiples of $500,000) from time to time, at the option of the Company,
or by the  application  (either at the option of the  Company or pursuant to the
requirements  of the  Mortgage)  of cash  delivered  to or  deposited  with  the
Corporate  Trustee pursuant to the provisions of Section 39, Section 55, Section
61,  Section 64 or Section 118 of the  Mortgage or with the Proceeds of Released
Property,  in any such case at 100% of the  principal  amount of the Bonds being
redeemed plus interest accrued thereon to the date of redemption,  together with
a premium equal to the Make-Whole  Amount,  if any, with respect to the Bonds of
the Seventh  Series being  redeemed  determined  five Business Days prior to the
date of such redemption.

         Notice of any  redemption  of the Bonds of the Seventh  Series shall be
given by mail,  postage prepaid,  at least 30 but not more than 60 days prior to
the date of  redemption,  to the  registered  owners of all Bonds of the Seventh
Series to be so redeemed at their  respective  addresses  appearing on the books
maintained  by the Company  pursuant to Section 13 of the  Mortgage.  Any notice
which is mailed as herein provided shall be  conclusively  presumed to have been
properly and sufficiently given on the date of such mailing,  whether or not the
registered  owner  receives the notice.  In any case,  failure to give notice by
mail, or any defect in such notice,  to the registered  owner of any Bond of the
Seventh  Series  designated  for redemption in whole or in part shall not affect
the  validity of the  proceedings  for the  redemption  of any other Bond of the
Seventh Series. Two Business Days prior to the redemption date specified in such
notice,  the Company shall provide each registered owner of Bonds of the Seventh
Series to be redeemed with written notice of the premium,  if any,  payable with
respect thereto and a reasonably detailed computation of the Make-Whole Amount.

         All partial  redemptions  of Bonds of the Seventh  Series shall be made
ratably  among  all  registered  owners  thereof  in the  proportion  which  the
principal  amount  of the  Bonds  held by each  registered  owner  bears  to the
aggregate  principal amount of all Bonds of the Seventh Series then outstanding,
computed  to the  nearest  $1,000  principal  amount of the Bonds of the Seventh
Series.

         In the event  that the  principal  amount  of the Bonds of the  Seventh
Series is declared due and payable upon the  occurrence  of a Default or becomes
due and payable pursuant to Section 73 of the Mortgage,  there shall then become
due and payable, together with the

                                    -8-
<PAGE>
principal  amount  of the  Bonds of the  Seventh  Series  and  interest  accrued
thereon, a premium equal to the amount of the Make-Whole Amount which would have
been payable with respect to such Bonds of the Seventh Series,  if they had been
redeemed  at the option of the  Company  pursuant  to Section 1.1 in this Eighth
Supplemental  Indenture  on the date on which  the Bonds of the  Seventh  Series
became due and Payable;  provided that such premium, if any, with respect to the
Bonds of the Seventh  Series  shall  become due and payable only of such Default
is, or such sale is made  following  a  Default,  other  than one  specified  in
subsections (e) or (f) of Section 65 of the Mortgage.

         Any Bond of the Seventh Series shall be  transferable by the registered
owner thereof in person,  or by its attorney duly authorized in writing,  at the
office or agency of the company in the City of Milwaukee,  Wisconsin,  or at its
office in Superior, Wisconsin, upon surrender thereof for cancellation, together
with a written  instrument  of  transfer in form  approved  by the Company  duly
executed by such registered owner or by its duly authorized  attorney.  Upon any
such transfer,  a new Bond or Bonds of the Seventh Series for the same aggregate
principal amount will be issued to the transferee in exchange therefor. Any Bond
of the Seventh  Series may, at the option of the  registered  owner  thereof and
upon surrender  thereof for cancellation at such office or agency,  be exchanged
as prescribed in the Mortgage for another Bond or Bonds of the Seventh Series of
other authorized  denominations  having the same aggregate  principal amount. In
the event any written  instrument of transfer is required in connection with any
transfer or exchange of any Bond of the Seventh  Series,  an  instrument  in the
form  attached  hereto as Exhibit B is hereby  approved  by the  Company for the
purposes of Section 12 of the Mortgage.

         Notwithstanding  any  provision  of  Section  12 or  Section  16 of the
Mortgage, (a) no charge will be made by the Company for any transfer or exchange
of any Bond or the  Seventh  Series  or, in the case of any lost,  destroyed  or
mutilated Bond, the issuance,  authentication  and delivery of a new Bond of the
Seventh  Series  in  substitution  thereof,  whether  for any stamp tax or other
governmental  charge,  if any applicable  thereto or otherwise,  and the Company
shall  reimburse the Corporate  Trustee for all expenses  incurred in connection
therewith  and (b) in the event of any loss,  destruction  or  mutilation of any
Bond of the Seventh  Series,  and a request by the holder for  issuance of a new
Bond of the Seventh  Series in  substitution  therefor,  the holder's  unsecured
indemnity  agreement  shall be deemed to be  satisfactory to the Company and the
Corporate Trustee for purposes of Section 16 of the Mortgage.

         Notwithstanding  any provision of Section 15 of the Mortgage,  Bonds of
the  Seventh  Series  shall  be  authenticated,  issued  and  delivered  only as
definitive  bonds.  Bonds of the  Seventh  Series so  authenticated,  issued and
delivered  may  be in the  form  of  fully  engraved  bonds,  bonds  printed  or
lithographed on engraved borders, bonds printed or bonds typewritten.

                                    -9-
<PAGE>


                                   ARTICLE II
                           COVENANTS AND RESTRICTIONS

         Section 2.1. The Company  covenants  that,  so long as any Bonds of the
Seventh Series are outstanding,  it will not merge or consolidate with any other
Person or sell,  lease or transfer or otherwise  dispose of all or a Substantial
Part of its assets, or assets which shall have contributed a Substantial Part of
net income of the Company for any of the three fiscal  years then most  recently
ended,  to any  Person;  provided,  however,  that  the  Company  may  merge  or
consolidate with, or sell or transfer all or substantially all of its assets to,
Minnesota  Power,  but  only if (a) in the  event  that  Minnesota  Power is the
continuing  or surviving  corporation  or the acquiring  corporation,  Minnesota
Power shall be a solvent  corporation and shall expressly  assume in writing all
of the obligations of the Company under the Mortgage,  this Eighth  Supplemental
Indenture,  the Bonds of the  Seventh  Series and the Bond  Purchase  Agreement,
including all covenants therein and herein contained,  and Minnesota Power shall
succeed to and be substituted  for the Company with the same effect as if it had
been named herein as a party  hereto,  and (b) the Company as the  continuing or
surviving  corporation  or  Minnesota  Power  as  the  continuing  or  surviving
corporation or acquiring corporation, as the case may be, shall not, immediately
after such merger or  consolidation,  or such sale or other  disposition,  be in
default under any of such obligations.

         Section 2.2. The Company  covenants  that,  so long as any Bonds of the
Seventh  Series shall remain  outstanding,  the Company will not issue,  sell or
otherwise dispose of any of its shares of capital stock to any Person other than
Minnesota Power.

         Section 2.3. The Company covenants that, so long as any of the Bonds of
the Seventh Series are outstanding, the Company shall not have any subsidiaries.

         Section 2.4. A default by the Company in the observance of any covenant
or agreement  contained in Sections 2.1 through 2.3,  inclusive,  of this Eighth
Supplemental  Indenture  or the  occurrence  of an Event of Default  (as defined
herein)  shall be deemed to constitute an  additional  and  independent  Default
under,  and  defined  in,  Section 65 of the  Mortgage.  None of the  additional
Defaults  provided  for  pursuant to this  Section 2.4 are  intended or shall be
deemed to limit any of the Defaults currently expressed in the Mortgage and none
of the  Defaults  currently  expressed  in the Mortgage are intended or shall be
deemed to limit any of the  additional  Defaults  provided  for pursuant to this
Section 2.4.

                                   ARTICLE III
                            MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

         Section 3.1. For purposes of this Eighth  Supplemental  Indenture,  the
following terms have the following meanings indicated below:

         "Bond Purchase  Agreement" shall mean the Bond Purchase Agreement dated
as of January 1, 1997, between the Company and the Purchaser.

                                    -10-
<PAGE>

         "Business  Day" shall mean any day other than a  Saturday,  Sunday or a
day on which commercial banks in Chicago, Illinois, or Milwaukee, Wisconsin, are
required or authorized to be closed.

         "Capitalized  Lease  Obligation"  shall mean with respect to any Person
any rental obligation which,  under generally  accepted  accounting  principles,
would be required to be  capitalized  on the books of such Person,  taken at the
amount  thereof  accounted  for as  indebtedness  (net of  interest  expense) in
accordance with such principles.

         "Event of Default"  shall mean any of the following  events which shall
occur and be  continuing  for any reason  whatsoever at any time when any of the
Bonds of the Seventh  Series shall be outstanding  (and whether such  occurrence
shall be voluntary or  involuntary  or come about or be effected by operation of
law or otherwise):

                  (i) the Company  defaults in the payment of any  principal  or
         premium, if any, payable with respect to any Bond of the Seventh Series
         when  the same  shall  become  due,  either  by the  terms  thereof  or
         otherwise  as  provided  in  the  Mortgage,  this  Eighth  Supplemental
         Indenture or the Bond Purchase Agreement; or

                 (ii) the Company  defaults  in the payment of any  interest on
         any Bond of the Seventh Series for more than 5 days after the due date;
         or

                (iii) the Company  defaults  (whether as primary obligor or as
         guarantor  or other  surety) in any payment of principal of or interest
         on any other  obligation for money borrowed (or any  Capitalized  Lease
         Obligation,  any  obligation  under a  conditional  sale or other title
         retention  agreement,  any  obligation  issued  or  assumed  as full or
         partial payment for property whether or not secured by a purchase money
         mortgage  or any  obligation  under  notes  payable or drafts  accepted
         representing  extensions of credit) beyond any period of grace provided
         with respect thereto and as a result, the aggregate principal amount of
         all such defaulted obligations exceeds $100,000 or the Company fails to
         perform or observe any other agreement,  term or condition contained in
         any agreement  under which any such  obligations are created (or if any
         other event  thereunder or under any such agreement  shall occur and be
         continuing)  and the effect of such failure or other event is to cause,
         or to permit the holder or holders of such obligations (or a trustee on
         behalf of such  holder or holders) to cause,  such  obligations  in the
         aggregate  principal  amount in excess of $100,000 to become due (or to
         be repurchased by the Company) prior to any stated maturity; or

                 (iv) any  representation  or  warranty  made by the Company in
         this Eighth Supplemental Indenture or the Bond Purchase Agreement or by
         the  Company  or any of  its  officers  in  any  writing  furnished  in
         connection  with or pursuant to this Eighth  Supplemental  Indenture or
         the Bond Purchase  Agreement shall be false in any material  respect on
         the date as of which made; or

                                    -11-
<PAGE>


                (v) the Company fails to perform or observe any agreement,  term
         or  condition  contained  in the  Mortgage,  this  Eighth  Supplemental
         Indenture or the Bond Purchase Agreement; or

               (vi) the Company makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors
         or is generally not paying its debts as such debts become due; or

              (vii) any decree or order for relief in respect of the Company
         is   entered   under  any   bankruptcy,   reorganization,   compromise,
         arrangement,   insolvency,   readjustment   of  debt,   dissolution  or
         liquidation or similar law,  whether now or hereafter in effect (herein
         called the Bankruptcy Law), of any jurisdiction; or

             (viii) the Company  petitions or applies to any tribunal  for, or 
         consents to, the appointment of, or taking possession by, a trustee,
         receiver,  custodian,  liquidator or similar official of the Company or
         of any  Substantial  Part of the assets of the  Company or  commences a
         voluntary  case under the  Bankruptcy  Law of the United  States or any
         proceedings  relating to the Company  under the  Bankruptcy  Law of any
         other jurisdiction; or

               (ix) any such petition or  application  is filed,  or any such
         proceedings are commenced,  against the Company, and the Company by any
         act indicates its approval  thereof,  consent  thereto or  acquiescence
         therein, or an order, judgment or decree is entered appointing any such
         trustee,  receiver,  custodian,  liquidator  or  similar  official,  or
         approving the petition in any such proceedings; or

                (x) any order, judgment or decree is entered in any proceeding
         against the Company  decreeing the  dissolution of the Company and such
         order,  judgment or decree remains unstayed and in effect for more than
         60 days; or

               (xi)  any  order,   judgment  or  decree  is  entered  in  any
         proceedings  against  the  Company  decreeing a split-up of the Company
         which  requires the  divestiture  of assets  representing a Substantial
         Part of the assets of the Company or which requires the  divestiture of
         assets  which  shall have  contributed  a  Substantial  Part of the net
         income of the  Company  for any of the  three  fiscal  years  then most
         recently ended, and such order, judgment or decree remains unstayed and
         in effect for more than 60 days; or

              (xii) a final  judgment  in an amount in excess of $100,000 is
         rendered  against the Company and,  within 60 days after entry thereof,
         such judgment is not  discharged or execution  thereof  stayed  pending
         appeal,  or within 60 days after the expiration of any such stay,  such
         judgment is not discharged; or

             (xiii)  Minnesota  Power  shall  cease  to own of  record  and
         beneficially  100% of the  outstanding  shares of capital  stock of the
         Company.

         "Make-Whole Amount" shall mean, in connection with any redemption,  the
excess,  if any,  of (i) the  aggregate  present  value  as of the  date of such
redemption of each dollar of

                                    -12-
<PAGE>
principal  being  redeemed  and the amount of  interest  (exclusive  of interest
accrued to the date of  redemption)  that would have been  payable in respect of
such dollar if such redemption had not been made, determined by discounting such
amounts at the  Reinvestment  Rate from the respective dates on which they would
have been  payable,  over (ii) 100% of the principal  amount of the  outstanding
Bonds of the Seventh Series being redeemed. If the Reinvestment Rate is equal to
or higher  than the rate of interest  borne by the Bonds of the Seventh  Series,
the Make-Whole Amount shall be zero.

         "Minnesota  Power" means Minnesota  Power & Light Company,  a Minnesota
corporation.

         "Person" shall mean and include an individual,  a partnership,  a joint
venture, a corporation, a trust, an unincorporated organization and a government
or any department or agency thereof.

         "Proceeds of Released  Property"  shall mean the  aggregate of the cash
deposited with or received by the Corporate  Trustee  pursuant to the provisions
of Section 59, Section 60, Section 61 (except such cash as is to be paid over to
the Company under the provisions of Section 61), or Section 62 of the Mortgage.

         "Purchaser" means Modern Woodmen of America.

         "Reinvestment  Rate" shall mean (A) the yield reported on the Bloomberg
Financial  Markets  Services Screen (or, if not available,  any other nationally
recognized trading screen reporting on-line intraday trading in U.S.  Government
Securities)  at 10:00  A.M.  (New York,  New York time) for the U.S.  Government
Securities having a maturity (rounded to the nearest month) corresponding to the
Remaining  Life to Maturity of the principal  being redeemed or (B) in the event
that no nationally  recognized trading screen reporting on-line intraday trading
in U.S.  Government  Securities is available,  Reinvestment  Rate shall mean the
arithmetic  mean of the  yields  for the two  columns  under the  heading  "Week
Ending"  published  in the  Statistical  Release  under  the  caption  "Treasury
Constant   Maturities"   for  the  maturity   (rounded  to  the  nearest  month)
corresponding to the Remaining Life to Maturity of the principal being redeemed.
If no maturity  exactly  corresponds to such Remaining Life to Maturity,  yields
for the two published  maturities most closely  corresponding  to such Remaining
Life to  Maturity  shall be  calculated  pursuant to the  immediately  preceding
sentence and the  Reinvestment  Rate shall be interpolated or extrapolated  from
such  yields  on a  straight-line  basis,  rounding  to four  decimals.  For the
purposes of  calculating  the  Reinvestment  Rate,  the most recent  Statistical
Release  published prior to the date of determination  of the Make-Whole  Amount
hereunder shall be used.

         "Remaining  Life to Maturity" of the  principal  amount of Bonds of the
Seventh Series being  redeemed  shall mean, as of the time of any  determination
thereof,  the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) which will
elapse between the date of  determination  and the maturity date of the Bonds of
the Seventh Series.

                                    -13-
<PAGE>
         "Statistical  Release" shall mean the  statistical  release  designated
"H.15(519)"  or any  successor  publication  which is  published  weekly  by the
Federal  Reserve  System and which  establishes  yields on actively  traded U.S.
Government  Securities  adjusted to constant  maturities or, if such statistical
release is not published at the time of any determination  hereunder,  then such
other  reasonably  comparable  index which shall be designated by the holders of
sixty-six and two-thirds per cent (66-2/3%) in aggregate principal amount of the
outstanding Bonds of the Seventh Series.

         "Substantial  Part" shall mean when used with  respect to assets or net
income 10% or more of such assets or net income, respectively.

         Section  3.2.  The  terms  defined  in  the  Mortgage,   as  heretofore
supplemented,  shall for all purposes of this Eighth Supplemental Indenture have
the meanings specified in the Mortgage, as heretofore supplemented.

         Section  3.3.  The  Corporate  Trustee hereby  accepts the trust herein
declared, provided and created and agrees to perform the same upon the terms and
conditions herein and in the Mortgage, as heretofore supplemented, set forth and
upon the following terms and conditions.

         The Corporate Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever
for or in respect of the  validity or  sufficiency  of this Eighth  Supplemental
Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals  contained  herein,  all of which
recitals  are made by the Company  solely.  In general,  each and every term and
condition contained in Article XVII of the Mortgage shall apply to and form part
of this Eighth  Supplemental  Indenture with the same force and effect as if the
same  were  herein  set  forth in full,  with  such  omissions,  variations  and
insertions,  if any,  as may be  appropriate  to make  the same  conform  to the
provisions of this Eighth Supplemental Indenture.

         Section 3.4.  Subject to the provisions of Article XVI and Article XVII
of the  Mortgage,  whenever in this  Eighth  Supplemental  Indenture  any of the
parties  hereto is named or  referred  to,  this shall be deemed to include  the
successors or assigns of such party,  and all the  covenants  and  agreements in
this Eighth  Supplemental  Indenture contained by or on behalf of the Company or
by or on behalf of the Corporate  Trustee shall bind and inure to the benefit of
the respective  successors  and assigns of such parties  whether so expressed or
not.

         Section 3.5.  Nothing in this Eighth Supplemental Indenture, express or
implied, is intended, or shall be construed,  to confer upon, or to give to, any
person,  firm or  corporation,  other than the parties hereto and the holders of
the bonds Outstanding under the Mortgage, any right, remedy or claim under or by
reason  of  this  Eighth  Supplemental  Indenture  or any  covenant,  condition,
stipulation,  promise or agreement  hereof,  and all the covenants,  conditions,
stipulations,  promises and  agreements  of this Eighth  Supplemental  Indenture
contained  by or on behalf of the  Company  shall be for the sole and  exclusive
benefit  of the  parties  hereto,  and of the  holders  of the  bonds and of the
coupons Outstanding under the Mortgage.

                                    -14-
<PAGE>
         Section  3.6.  This Eighth  Supplemental  Indenture  may be executed in
several counterparts,  each of which shall be an original and all of which shall
constitute but one and the same instrument.



                                    -15-
<PAGE>
         IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  Superior Water, Light and Power Company has caused
its corporate name to be hereunto affixed,  and this instrument to be signed and
sealed by its President or one of its Vice Presidents, and its corporate seal to
be attested by its Secretary or one of its Assistant  Secretaries for and in its
behalf,  and First Bank  (N.A.) has caused  its  corporate  name to be  hereunto
affixed,  and this  instrument  to be signed and sealed by its President and its
corporate  seal  to be  attested  by its  Secretary,  all as of the  1st  day of
January, 1997.

                                            SUPERIOR WATER, LIGHT AND POWER
                                                COMPANY

                                            By:   Roger P. Engle
                                               ------------------------------
                                                  Roger P. Engle, President


ATTEST:


Susan M. Buxton
- ---------------------------
Susan M. Buxton, Secretary

Executed, sealed and delivered by
Superior Water, Light and Power
Company in the presence of:

Gary A. Hoffman
- ---------------------------

Paul M. Holt
- ---------------------------

                                    -16-
<PAGE>


                                        FIRST BANK (N.A.) as Corporate Trustee


                                        By    Eve D. Kaplan
                                            ----------------------------------
                                        Its    Vice President
                                            ----------------------------------


ATTEST:


K. Barrett
- ---------------------------
Assistant Secretary

Executed, sealed and delivered by
First Bank (N.A.) in the presence of:

D. Garsteig
- ---------------------------

B. Schwintek
- ---------------------------

                                    -17-
<PAGE>

STATE OF WISCONSIN         )
                           )   SS.
COUNTY OF DOUGLAS          )

        Personally came before me this 2 day of January,  1997,  Roger P. Engle,
to me known to be the  President,  and  Susan M.  Buxton,  to me known to be the
Secretary  of the  above-named  SUPERIOR  WATER,  LIGHT AND POWER  COMPANY,  the
corporation described in and which executed the foregoing instrument,  and to me
personally  known to be the persons who as such officers  executed the foregoing
instrument  in the name and behalf of said  corporation,  who,  being by me duly
sworn,  did  depose  and say and  acknowledge  that  they are  respectively  the
President  and  Secretary  of said  corporation,  that the seal  affixed to said
instrument  is the  corporate  seal of said  corporation,  and that they signed,
sealed  and  delivered  said  instrument  in the  name  and on  behalf  of  said
corporation by authority of its Board of Directors,  and said Roger P. Engle and
Susan M. Buxton,  then and there acknowledged said instrument to be the free act
and deed of said corporation and that such corporation executed the same.

        Given under my hand and notarial seal this 2 day of January, 1997.

                                             Patricia L. Smith
                                             ------------------------------
                                             Notary Public, State of Wisconsin
                                             My Commission 7/2/2000

                                    -18-
<PAGE>

STATE OF  MINNESOTA        )
                           )   SS.
COUNTY OF RAMSEY           )


         Personally came before me this 3rd day of January, 1997, EVE D. KAPLAN,
to me known to be the VICE  PRESIDENT,  and KATHE  BARRETT,  of the  above-named
FIRST BANK (N.A.), the corporation described in and which executed the foregoing
instrument,  and to me  personally  known to be the persons who as such officers
executed the foregoing  instrument  in the name and behalf of said  corporation,
who, being by me duly sworn,  did depose and say and  acknowledge  that they are
respectively  the VICE  PRESIDENT and Assistant  Secretary of said  corporation,
that  the  seal  affixed  to  said  instrument  is the  corporate  seal  of said
corporation,  and that they signed,  sealed and delivered said instrument in the
name and on behalf of said  corporation  by authority of its Board of Directors,
and said EVE D.  KAPLAN  and KATHE  BARRETT,  then and there  acknowledged  said
instrument  to be the  free  act and  deed of said  corporation  and  that  such
corporation executed the same.

         Given under my hand and notarial seal this 3rd day of January, 1997.


                                              Rick Prokosch
                                              ------------------------------
                                              Richard Prokosch
                                              Notary Public, State of Minnesota
                                              My Commission  1-31-2000
[SEAL]

                                    -19-
<PAGE>

                      [FORM OF BOND OF THE SEVENTH SERIES]

                     SUPERIOR WATER, LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY

                               FIRST MORTGAGE BOND

                       7.27% Series due December 15, 2008

No. R-                                                              $
      ---                                                            -----------

         SUPERIOR WATER,  LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY, a corporation of the State of
Wisconsin  (hereinafter  called  the  "Company"),  for  value  received,  hereby
promises to pay to ____________,  or registered  assigns,  on December 15, 2008,
_______________  DOLLARS  ($____________) in such coin or currency of the United
States of  America  as at the time of  payment  is legal  tender  for public and
private debts,  and to pay to the registered  owner hereof  interest  thereon in
like coin or currency  (computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day
months) at the rate of seven and  twenty-seven  hundredths  percent  (7.27%) per
annum  semiannually  on June 15 and December 15 of each year commencing June 15,
1997 until the  principal  thereof  shall have become due and payable and at the
rate of nine  and  twenty-seven  hundredths  percent  (9.27%)  per  annum on any
overdue payment of principal or premium,  if any, and, to the extent enforceable
under  applicable law, on any overdue payment of interest.  The principal hereof
(and premium,  if any) and interest hereon shall be paid at the office or agency
of the Company in the City of Milwaukee,  Wisconsin or the office of the Company
in  Superior,  Wisconsin  or as shall be  otherwise  agreed to  pursuant  to the
provisions of the Eighth Supplemental Indenture hereinafter referred to.

         This bond is one of an issue of bonds of the Company issuable in series
and is one of a series  designated  the First Mortgage  Bonds,  7.27% Series due
December  15, 2008 (the  "Bonds of the  Seventh  Series ") created by the Eighth
Supplemental  Indenture  dated as of January 1, 1997  executed by the Company to
First  Bank  (N.A.)  (successor  Corporate  Trustee  to  Chemical  Bank &  Trust
Company),  as Corporate Trustee,  all bonds of all series being issued and to be
issued  under and  equally  secured  by a  Mortgage  and Deed of Trust  (herein,
together with any indentures supplemental thereto, called the "Mortgage"), dated
as of March 1, 1943,  executed by the Company to Chemical  Bank & Trust  Company
(First  Bank  (N.A.),  successor  Corporate  Trustee)  and Howard B.  Smith,  as
Trustees.  Reference is made to the Mortgage for a  description  of the property
mortgaged and pledged, the nature and extent of the security,  the rights of the
holders of the bonds and of the Corporate Trustee in respect thereof, the duties
and immunities of the Corporate  Trustee and terms and conditions upon which the
bonds are and are to be secured and the  circumstances  under  which  additional
bonds may be issued.

         With the consent of the Company and to the extent  permitted  by and as
provided in the Mortgage,  the rights and  obligations of the Company and/or the
rights  of the  holders  of the  bonds  and/or  coupons  and/or  the  terms  and
provisions of the Mortgage may be modified or altered by affirmative vote of the
holders of at least seventy per centum (70%) in principal

                                    EXHIBIT A
                       (to Eighth Supplemental Indenture)

<PAGE>

amount of the bonds then  outstanding  under the Mortgage  and, if the rights of
the holders of one or more, but less than all, series of bonds then  outstanding
are to be  affected,  then also by  affirmative  vote of the holders of at least
seventy per centum (70%) in principal  amount of the bonds then  outstanding  of
each series of bonds so to be affected (excluding in any case bonds disqualified
from  voting by reason of the  Company's  interest  therein as  provided  in the
Mortgage);  provided  that,  without the consent of the holder  hereof,  no such
modification or alteration shall, among other things, impair or affect the right
of the holder to receive  payment of the principal of (and premium,  if any) and
interest on this bond,  on or after the  respective  due dates and at the places
and in the respective  amounts  expressed  herein, or permit the creation of any
lien equal or prior to the lien of the  Mortgage  or  deprive  the holder of the
benefit of a lien on the  mortgaged  and pledged  property,  or give any bond or
bonds  secured by the  Mortgage any  preference  over any other bond or bonds so
secured,  or reduce the percentage in principal  amount of the bonds required to
authorize or consent to any such modification or alteration of the Mortgage.

         The Bonds of the Seventh Series may be redeemed  prior to maturity,  in
whole at any time or in part (in  multiples of $500,000)  from time to time,  at
the option of the Company,  or by the  application  (either at the option of the
Company or pursuant to the requirements of the Mortgage) of cash delivered to or
deposited with the Corporate  Trustee  pursuant to the provisions of Section 39,
Section 55,  Section 61,  Section 64 or Section 118 of the  Mortgage or with the
Proceeds  of  Released   Property  (as  defined  in  said  Eighth   Supplemental
Indenture),  in any such case at 100% of the principal amount to be so redeemed,
plus accrued  interest  thereon to the  redemption  date together with a premium
equal  to  the  Make-Whole  Amount  (as  defined  in  said  Eighth  Supplemental
Indenture),  if any,  with  respect to the Bonds of the  Seventh  Series,  being
redeemed.

         Notice of any  redemption  of the Bonds of the Seventh  Series shall be
given by mail at least 30 days prior to the  redemption  date, all as more fully
provided in said  Eighth  Supplemental  Indenture  and the  Mortgage.  Notice of
redemption  having been duly given,  the Bonds of the Seventh  Series called for
redemption  shall become due and payable upon the  redemption  date,  and if the
redemption price shall have been deposited with the Corporate Trustee,  interest
thereon  shall cease to accrue on and after the  redemption  date  (unless  such
bonds  shall have been  properly  presented  for  payment on, or within one year
after,  the redemption  date and shall not have been paid) and on the redemption
date or  whenever  thereafter  the  redemption  price  thereof  shall  have been
deposited  with the Corporate  Trustee such bonds shall no longer be entitled to
the lien of the Mortgage.

         The  principal  hereof may be  declared  or may become due prior to the
maturity date  hereinbefore  named on the  conditions,  in the manner and at the
time set forth in the  Mortgage,  upon the  occurrence  of a  default  as in the
Mortgage provided.

        This  bond  is  transferable  as  prescribed  in  the  Mortgage  by  the
registered owner hereof in person,  or by its duly authorized  attorney,  at the
office or agency  of the  Company  in the City of  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin  or the
office  of  the  Company  in  Superior,  Wisconsin  upon  surrender  hereof  for
cancellation, together with a written instrument of transfer in form approved by
the Company duly executed by the registered owner hereof or by its duly

                                    A-2
<PAGE>

authorized  attorney,  and thereupon a new fully registered bond or bonds of the
same  series for a like  principal  amount will be issued to the  transferee  in
exchange  herefor as provided in the  Mortgage.  This bond may, at the option of
the registered  owner hereof and upon surrender  hereof for cancellation at such
office  or  agency,  be  exchanged  as  prescribed  in the  Mortgage  for  other
registered bonds of the same series of other authorized  denominations  having a
like aggregate  principal  amount. No charge will be made by the Company for any
transfer or exchange of this bond or, in case this bond shall be lost, destroyed
or  mutilated,  the  issuance,  authentication  and  delivery  of a new  bond in
substitution  hereof.  The Company and the Corporate  Trustee may deem and treat
the person in whose name this bond is  registered  as the absolute  owner hereof
for the purpose of receiving  payment and for all other purposes and neither the
Company  nor the  corporate  Trustee  shall be  affected  by any  notice  to the
contrary.

        As provided in the  Mortgage,  the Company shall not be required to make
transfers or exchanges of bonds of any series for a period of ten (10) days next
preceding any interest payment date for bonds of said series,  or next preceding
any  designation  of bonds of said series to be redeemed,  and the Company shall
not be required to make transfers or exchanges of any bonds  designated in whole
or in part for redemption.

        This bond shall not become  obligatory  until  First  Bank  (N.A.),  the
Corporate Trustee under the Mortgage,  or its successor  thereunder,  shall have
signed the form of authentication certificate endorsed hereon.

                                    A-3
<PAGE>

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  SUPERIOR WATER,  LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY has caused
this bond to be  signed in its  corporate  name by its  President  or one of its
Vice-Presidents  and its  Treasurer  and its  corporate  seal to be impressed or
imprinted  hereon  and  attested  by its  Secretary  or  one  of  its  Assistant
Secretaries on 
               ------------, ------------.


                                        SUPERIOR WATER, LIGHT AND POWER
                                             COMPANY

                                        By:
                                           -----------------------------------
                                                     Roger P. Engle
                                                        President

                                        By:
                                           -----------------------------------
                                                     Gary A. Hoffman
                                                         Treasurer

ATTEST:



- ---------------------------
Susan M. Buxton, Secretary


         [FORM OF CORPORATE TRUSTEE'S AUTHENTICATION CERTIFICATE]

        This  bond  is one of  the  bonds,  of  the  series  herein  designated,
described or provided for in the within-mentioned Mortgage.

                                        FIRST BANK (N.A.), as Corporate Trustee


                                        By:
                                           ------------------------------------
                                                     Authorized Officer

                                    A-4
<PAGE>


                      ASSIGNMENT AND IRREVOCABLE BOND POWER
                                       FOR
                     SUPERIOR WATER, LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY
                               FIRST MORTGAGE BOND
                       7.27% SERIES DUE DECEMBER 15, 2008

         FOR VALUE RECEIVED, __________________________________________________
do ____  hereby sell, assign and transfer unto ________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
one First Mortgage Bond,  7.27% Series due December 15, 2008, of Superior Water,
Light and Power Company (the "Company") for ___________________________________
($____________), No. ______________,  standing in _____________________________
name __________________ on  the books of the Company  and do __________________
hereby  irrevocably constitute and appoint ____________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
attorney to transfer the said bond on the books of the Company,  with full power
of substitution in the premises.

         IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF,   _________________________________________  have
hereunto  set ________ hand  ____________________  [and seal  ______________] at
________________ this ______ day of ________________, 19__.

Signed, [Sealed] and Delivered in the Presence of

                                                                        [(SEAL)]
- -----------------------------------    ---------------------------------

                                                                        [(SEAL)]
- -----------------------------------    ---------------------------------


STATE OF                               )
        ----------------------
                                       ) SS.

COUNTY OF                              )
         ---------------------


        I, ____________________,  a notary public in and for said County, in the
State aforesaid, do hereby certify, that _______________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
who ________ personally  known to me to be the same  person  ____________  whose
name _____ subscribed to the foregoing  instrument,  appeared  before me this
day in person and acknowledged that  __________________________ signed, sealed
and delivered the said instrument as _________________ free and voluntary act
for the uses and purposes therein set forth.

         Given under my hand and official seal this ___day of ________, A.D.___.



                                               -------------------------------
                                               Notary Public
                                               My Commission Expires
                                                                     ---------

                                   EXHIBIT B
                       (to Eighth Supplemental Indenture)
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-4.C.1
<SEQUENCE>6
<DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 4(C)1
<TEXT>



<PAGE>
                                                                  Exhibit 4(c)1
<PAGE>

This Instrument was prepared by:
Karla Olson Teasley, Esq.
SOUTHERN STATES UTILITIES, INC.
1000 COLOR PLACE, APOPKA, FLORIDA 32703



- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                        SOUTHERN STATES UTILITIES, INC.



                                       to



                             NATIONSBANK OF GEORGIA,
                              NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,



                As Trustee under Southern States Utilities, Inc.
                       Indenture dated as of March 1, 1993


                           ------------------------

                          First Supplemental Indenture



                 Relating to up to $45,000,000 Principal Amount
               of First Mortgage Bonds, Variable Rate Series, due
           December 31, 1993 and up to $45,000,000 Principal Amount of
             First Mortgage Bonds, 8.73% Series due January 31, 2013

                           ------------------------

                           Dated as of March 1, 1993


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>

                          FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

                  SUPPLEMENTAL  INDENTURE  dated  as of March 1,  1993  between
SOUTHERN STATES UTILITIES,  INC., a Florida corporation (hereinafter called the
"Company"), and NATIONSBANK OF GEORGIA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking
association (hereinafter called the "Trustee"),  as Trustee under the Indenture,
dated as of March 1, 1993 (hereinafter called the "Original  Indenture"),  which
Original  Indenture  was  executed  and  delivered  by the Company to secure the
payment of Securities  issued or to be issued under and in  accordance  with the
provisions thereof, this Supplemental  Indenture  (hereinafter  sometimes called
the "First  Supplemental  Indenture") being  supplemental  thereto (the Original
Indenture, as supplemented by this First Supplemental  Indenture,  and as it may
hereafter be supplemented, being herein called the "Indenture");

                  WHEREAS,  Section 1701 of the Original Indenture provides that
the Company and the Trustee,  at any time and from time to time,  may enter into
one or more  indentures  supplemental  to the  Original  Indenture,  for various
purposes  including to add one or more covenants of the Company and to establish
the terms of  Securities  of any series as  contemplated  by Section  201 of the
Original Indenture;

                  WHEREAS,  the Company now desires to create two series of
Securities and to add to its covenants  contained in the Original Indenture 
certain other covenants to be observed by it;

                  WHEREAS,  the execution  and  delivery  by the Company of this
First  Supplemental  Indenture,  and the terms of the two series of  Securities,
have been duly authorized by the Company as provided in the Original Indenture;

                  NOW, THEREFORE,  THIS FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE WITNESSETH,
that, in  consideration of the premises and of Ten Dollars ($10) to it duly paid
by  the  Trustee  at  or  before  the  ensealing  and  delivery  of  this  First
Supplemental  Indenture,  the  receipt  whereof is hereby  acknowledged,  and to
secure the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the
Securities and the performance of the covenants therein and herein contained and
in  consideration  of the premises and of the purchase of the  Securities by the
Holders thereof, the Company by these presents does grant, bargain, sell, alien,
remise, release, convey, assign, transfer,  mortgage,  hypothecate,  pledge, set
over and confirm to the  Trustee,  and grant a security  interest in, all of the
Trust Estate;

                  TO HAVE AND TO HOLD all said Trust Estate unto the Trustee and
its  successors and assigns forever.

                  SUBJECT,  HOWEVER,  to  Permitted  Liens  and,  to the  extent
permitted by Section 704 of the Indenture,  as to property  hereafter  acquired,
Prior Liens existing on the date of acquisition or purchase money mortgages.

                  BUT IN TRUST, NEVERTHELESS, for the same purposes and upon the
same terms,  trusts and conditions and subject to and with the same provisos and
covenants as are set forth in the Indenture,  this First Supplemental  Indenture
being supplemental thereto.

<PAGE>
                                      -2-

                  AND IT IS HEREBY  COVENANTED  by the  Company  that all terms,
conditions,  provisos,  covenants  and  provisions  contained  in  the  Original
Indenture shall affect and apply to the Trust Estate and to the estate,  rights,
obligations and duties of the Company and the Trustee and the  beneficiaries  of
the trust with respect to said  property,  and to the Trustee and its successors
as Trustee of said  property  in the same  manner and with the same effect as if
said  property had been owned by the Company at the time of the execution of the
Indenture,  and had been specifically and at length described in and conveyed to
said Trustee,  by the Indenture as a part of the property  therein  stated to be
conveyed.

                  The  Company  further  covenants  and  agrees to and with the 
Trustee,  and its successors in said trust under the Indenture, as follows:



                                  ARTICLE FIRST

                         Securities of the First Series

SECTION 1.01. Description of Series.

                  There shall be a series of  Securities  designated  "Variable
Rate Series,  due December 31, 1993" (herein sometimes referred to as the "First
Series"),  each of which shall also bear the  descriptive  title "First Mortgage
Bond,"  and the  form  thereof,  which  shall  be  established  in an  Officer's
Certificate as provided in the Indenture, shall contain suitable provisions with
respect to the matters  hereinafter  in this Article  specified.  The  aggregate
principal  amount of Securities  of the First Series which may be  authenticated
and delivered is limited to $45,000,000,  except as provided in Sections 205 and
206 of the  Indenture.  Securities  of the First Series shall mature on December
31, 1993 and shall be issued as fully registered  Securities in denominations of
One Thousand Dollars and, at the option of the Company, in any integral multiple
or  multiples  thereof  (the  exercise  of such  option to be  evidenced  by the
execution and delivery thereof). At the option of the Company, Securities of the
First Series may,  from time to time,  be grouped into one or more Tranches each
having an aggregate principal amount of no less than $10,000,000.  The period of
time each such  Tranche  remains  Outstanding  shall be divided into one or more
Interest Rate Periods,  determined  as provided  below.  Each such Tranche shall
bear interest during each applicable  Interest Rate Period at an annual interest
rate equal to the LIBOR rate for such  period plus 1.25 per centum  (1.25%),  or
such  other  rate as may from  time to time be  agreed  upon in  writing  by the
Company and the Holders of the  Securities  of such  Tranche  with notice to the
Trustee,  payable on the last day of the  applicable  Interest Rate Period;  the
principal,  premium, if any, and interest on each said Security to be payable at
the office or agency of the Company in Apopka, Florida, in such coin or currency
of the United  States of  America as at the time of payment is legal  tender for
public and private  debts.  Securities  of the First Series shall be dated as in
the Indenture provided.  Interest on the Securities of the First Series shall be
computed for each  Interest  Rate Period on the actual number of days elapsed on
the basis of a year consisting of 360 days.

                  If the Company  shall  default in the payment of the principal
of, or premium  or  interest  on, any  Security  of the First  Series,  then the
Company shall pay to the Holder of such Security such overdue principal, premium
or interest, together with interest on such overdue principal and (to the extent
permitted by law) on such  overdue  premium or interest at the at a default rate
equal to the LIBOR rate for each Interest Rate Period, determined as provided in
this paragraph, plus 1.25 per centum (1.25%) plus two per centum (2%) per annum.
For purposes of calculating such default rate,

<PAGE>

                                      -3-

there shall be deemed to exist  successive  Interest Rate Periods,  each for the
term of one month (as defined in paragraph  (2) below),  the first such Interest
Rate  Period  beginning  on the  day on  which  such  default  occurs  and  each
subsequent  Interest  Rate  Period  beginning  on the last day of the  preceding
Interest Rate Period. The Holders of such Securities shall notify the Trustee of
the default rate promptly  after the beginning of each such Interest Rate Period
after default.

                  For purposes of this Section 1.01:

                  (1)  "LIBOR  rate"  shall mean the rate  indicated  by Reuters
(screen  LIBO) as having  been  quoted by  Bankers  Trust  Company at 11:00 a.m.
London  time on the first day of the  applicable  Interest  Rate  Period for the
offering of U.S. dollar deposits in the London interbank market for the Interest
Rate  Period.  The LIBOR rate for any  Interest  Rate  Period with which a LIBOR
period does not coincide will be interpolated  between the next shortest and the
next longest maturity LIBOR rates as quoted by Reuters.



                  (2)  "Interest  Rate Period"  shall mean,  with respect to any
Tranche of Securities of the First Series,  any period of one month, two months,
three months,  six months,  nine months and a final period of any number of days
no longer than ten months determined by the Company and specified in a notice to
the Holders of such Tranche and the Trustee  delivered  on or before  either the
date of first  authentication of the Securities of the First Series or the first
day of an Interest  Rate  Period;  provided  that no Interest  Rate Period shall
extend  beyond  December 31, 1993.  If upon the  expiration  of an Interest Rate
Period for a  particular  Tranche the Company has not  determined  a  subsequent
Interest Rate Period, then such subsequent Interest Rate Period shall be for the
term of the lesser of one month or the days remaining to Maturity.  For purposes
of this  paragraph  (2),  the  term  "month"  or  "months"  shall  mean a period
consisting of 30 days or integral multiples thereof; provided,  however, that in
the event any Interest Rate Period expires on a day which is not a Business Day,
such period  shall be  extended to the next  Business  Day.  Promptly  after the
determination  of any Interest  Rate Period,  the Company and the Holders of the
Securities affected by such Interest Rate Period shall agree upon the applicable
Original Estimated Cost of Funds, calculated as provided in Section 1.02 hereof,
and the  applicable  annual  interest rate for such  Interest  Rate Period;  the
Company shall promptly  thereafter notify the Trustee of such Original Estimated
Cost of Funds and annual interest rate.

                  The  Regular  Record  Date  referred to in Section 207 of the
Indenture for the payment of the interest on the  Securities of the First Series
payable  on any  Interest  Payment  Date  shall be the first  Business  Day next
preceding such Interest Payment Date.

                 The  Company   shall  be  exempt  from  filing  the  Cash  Flow
Certificate  provided in Section  301(d) of the  Indenture  with  respect to the
issuance of Securities of the First Series.

SECTION 1.02. Optional Redemption of Securities of the First Series.

                 (I)  Securities  of the First Series shall be redeemable on any
Business  Day, at the option of the Company,  in whole or in part in  accordance
with Section 903 of the  Indenture  from time to time,  prior to maturity,  upon
notice  delivered to each Holder at its last  address  appearing on the Security
Register not less than one Business Day prior to the date fixed for  redemption,
at a Redemption Price ("First Series General  Redemption Price") (expressed as a
percentage of the principal  amount of the  Securities to be redeemed)  equal to
the  sum of (i)  one  hundred  per  centum  (100%)  plus  (ii) a "First  Series
Prepayment  Surcharge" calculated as hereinafter provided, in each case together
with accrued

<PAGE>

                                      -4-

interest to the date fixed for redemption. For purposes of calculating the First
Series General Redemption Price, the First Series Prepayment  Surcharge shall be
calculated as follows:

                 (A) Determine the difference  between:  (1) Original  Estimated
         Cost of Funds minus (2) the Discount Rate, as hereinafter  defined,  as
         of the Redemption Date.

                 (B)  Add  one  half  (1/2)  of one  per  centum  (1%)  to  such
         difference  (such that the minimum  result shall at all times be 1/2 of
         1%).

                 (C) Multiply  the amount  described in (B) above by the portion
         of the principal amount redeemed.

                 (D) Multiply the amount described in (C) above by the number of
         days between the  Redemption  Date and the end of the current  Interest
         Rate Period for the applicable Tranche of such Securities and divide by
         360.

                 (E) Determine the present value of the  calculation  made under
         (D) above  based upon the end of the current  Interest  Rate Period for
         the applicable  Tranche of such  Securities and the Discount Rate as of
         the Redemption Date.

                 (F)  Add  an  amount  equal  to  a  Second  Series   Prepayment
         Surcharge,  as it would be calculated  pursuant to Section 2.02 hereof,
         for a principal  amount of Securities of the Second Series equal to the
         principal amount of Securities of the First Series then being redeemed,
         as if such  Securities of the Second  Series were being  redeemed as of
         December 31, 1993 for purposes of calculating such Prepayment Surcharge
         except for  establishing  the Discount Rate with respect  thereto.  The
         Discount Rate, for purposes of such calculation, shall be determined by
         reference  to the yields and  interest  rates in effect on the Business
         Day immediately prior to the Redemption Date for such Securities of the
         First  Series.   The  result  shall  be  the  First  Series  Prepayment
         Surcharge.

                  (II) A notice  containing the  calculation of the First Series
General  Redemption  Price shall be prepared by the Company and delivered to the
Trustee and the Holders of the  Securities of the First Series to be redeemed on
the Business Day next preceding the Redemption  Date. The  calculation set forth
in such notice shall be final unless the Holders of the  Securities  so redeemed
notify the Company and the Trustee of an error in such calculation within thirty
days after notice of such calculation.  If it is determined that the Company has
made an error in such  calculation  and the Company pays the  difference to such
Holders promptly after such determination,  then the Company shall not be deemed
to be in  default  under  the  Indenture  by  reason  of  late  payment  of such
difference.

                  (III) As  pertains  to  Securities  of the  First  Series, the
"Discount  Rate" shall mean an  interest  rate equal to the yield to maturity of
Farm  Credit  discount  notes  having  a  weighted  average  life  equal  to the
applicable  Interest  Rate Period for the  Securities  to be  redeemed  plus the
estimated dealer concession for placing Farm Credit discount notes,  obtained by
a polling of Farm Credit Funding  Corporation  dealers on the Business Day prior
to the  Redemption  Date.  The  yield of Farm  Credit  discount  notes  shall be
determined  by a polling  of Farm  Credit  Funding  Corporation  dealers  on the
Business Day prior to the Redemption  Date. This yield will then be converted to
a  semi-annual  bond  equivalent  yield basis for  purposes of any  calculations
hereunder.

<PAGE>

                                      -5-


                  (IV) As  pertains  to  Securities  of the  First  Series,  the
"Original  Estimated  Cost of Funds"  shall mean an  interest  rate equal to the
yield to maturity of Farm Credit  discount notes having a weighted  average life
equal to the  applicable  Interest Rate Period for the Securities to be redeemed
plus the estimated  dealer  concession for placing Farm Credit  discount  notes,
obtained by a polling of Farm Credit Funding Corporation dealers on the date the
interest rate for a particular Interest Rate Period is determined.  The yield of
Farm  Credit  discount  notes  shall be  determined  by a polling of Farm Credit
Funding  Corporation  dealers  on the  same day  that  the  interest  rate for a
particular Interest Rate Period is determined. This yield will then be converted
to a semi-annual  bond equivalent  yield basis for purposes of any  calculations
hereunder.


                                 ARTICLE SECOND

                         Securities of the Second Series

SECTION 2.01. Description of Series.

                  There shall be a series of Securities designated "8.73% Series
due January 31, 2013"  (herein  sometimes  referred to as the "Second  Series"),
each of which shall also bear the descriptive  title "First Mortgage Bond",  and
the form thereof,  which shall be  established  in an Officer's  Certificate  as
provided in the Indenture, shall contain suitable provisions with respect to the
matters hereinafter in this Article specified. The aggregate principal amount of
Securities  of the Second  Series which may be  authenticated  and  delivered is
limited  to  $45,000,000,  except as  provided  in  Sections  205 and 206 of the
Indenture.  Securities of the Second Series shall mature on January 31, 2013 and
shall be issued as fully registered  Securities in denominations of One Thousand
Dollars and, at the option of the Company, in any integral multiple or multiples
thereof  (the  exercise  of such option to be  evidenced  by the  execution  and
delivery  thereof); they  shall  bear  interest  at the rate of 8.73% per annum,
payable on July 31, 1994 for the period from  December 31, 1993 to July 31, 1994
and  semi-annually  on  January  31 and July 31 of each  year  thereafter  until
Maturity; the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on each said Security
to be payable at the office or agency of the Company in Apopka, Florida, in such
coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is
legal tender for public and private debts. Securities of the Second Series shall
be dated as in the Indenture provided. Interest on the Securities of the Second
Series shall be computed on the actual number of days elapsed on the basis of a
year consisting of 360 days. If the Company shall default in the payment of the
principal of, or premium or interest on, any Security of the Second Series, then
the Company shall pay to the Holder of such Security such overdue principal,
premium or interest, together with interest on such overdue principal and (to
the extent permitted by law) on such overdue  premium or interest at the rate
borne by such Security immediately prior to such default plus two per centum
(2%) per annum.

                  The  Regular  Record  Date  referred  to in Section 207 of the
Indenture for the payment of the interest on the Securities of the Second Series
payable  on any  Interest  Payment  Date  shall be the first  Business  Day next
preceding such Interest Payment Date.

                 The  Company   shall  be  exempt  from  filing  the  Cash  Flow
Certificate  provided in section  301(d) of the  Indenture  with  respect to the
issuance of Securities of the Second Series.
<PAGE>

                                      -6-

SECTION 2.02. Optional Redemption of Securities of the Second Series.

                  (I) Securities of the Second Series shall be redeemable on any
Business  Day, at the option of the Company,  in whole or in part in  accordance
with Section 903 of the  Indenture  from time to time,  prior to maturity,  upon
notice  delivered to each Holder at its last  address  appearing on the Security
Register not less than one Business Day prior to the date fixed for  redemption,
at a Redemption Price ("Second Series General Redemption Price") (expressed as a
percentage of the principal  amount of the  Securities to be redeemed)  equal to
the  sum of (i) one  hundred  per  centum  (100%)  plus  (ii) a  "Second  Series
Prepayment  Surcharge" calculated as hereinafter provided, in each case together
with  accrued  interest  to the date  fixed  for  redemption.  For  purposes  of
calculating  the Second  Series  General  Redemption  Price,  the Second  Series
Prepayment Surcharge shall be calculated as follows:

                 (A) Determine the difference between:  (1) seven and 32/100 per
         centum (7.32%) minus (2) the Discount Rate, as hereinafter defined, as
         of the Redemption Date.

                 (B)  Add  one  half  (1/2)  of one  per  centum  (1%)  to  such
         difference  (such that the minimum  result shall at all times be 1/2 of
         1% if the  redemption  occurs prior to March 31, 1996;  thereafter,  no
         amount shall be added in this step (B) provided that, in any event, the
         minimum result shall be at least zero).

                 (C) Divide the result determined in (B) above by 2.

                 (D) For each semi-annual period or portion thereof during which
         the principal  amount redeemed was scheduled to have been  Outstanding,
         multiply  the  amount  described  in (C)  above by the  portion  of the
         principal  amount redeemed that was scheduled to have been  Outstanding
         on the  last  day of such  semi-annual  period  (such  that  there is a
         calculation  for each  semi-annual  period  during which the  principal
         amount redeemed was scheduled to have been Outstanding).

                 (E) Determine the present value of each semi-annual calculation
         made under (D) above based upon the scheduled time that interest on the
         principal amount redeemed would have been payable and the Discount Rate
         as of the Redemption Date.

                 (F) Add all of the  calculations  made  under  (E)  above.  The
         result shall be the Second Series Prepayment Surcharge.

Unless  otherwise agreed with a majority of the Holders of the Securities of the
Second  Series to be  Outstanding  after a redemption  under this  Section,  the
Securities  redeemed  under  this  Section  may not be used as a credit  for the
redemption of Securities provided for in Section 2.03 of this First Supplemental
Indenture.

                  (II) A notice  containing the calculation of the Second Series
General  Redemption  Price shall be prepared by the Company and delivered to the
Trustee and the Holders of the Securities of the Second Series to be redeemed on
the Business Day next preceding the Redemption  Date. The  calculation set forth
in such notice shall be final unless the Holders of the  Securities  so redeemed
notify  the  Company  and the  Trustee of an error in such  calculations  within
thirty  days after  notice of such  calculation.  If it is  determined  that the
Company  has  made  an  error  in such  calculation  and the  Company  pays  the
difference to such Holders promptly after such  determination,  then the Company
shall not be  deemed to be in  default  under  the  Indenture  by reason of late
payment of such difference.

<PAGE>

                                      -7-

                 (III) As  pertains  to  Securities  of the Second  Series,  the
"Discount Rate" shall mean an interest rate determined by adding to the yield on
treasury bonds having  maturities equal to the weighted average life to maturity
of the Securities to be redeemed,  determined as necessary by  interpolation  of
treasury  bonds  having the next longer and next  shorter  maturities ("Treasury
Yield"), as reported on the "MMKS" Reuters  monitor  screen for the Business Day
prior to the Redemption Date for such Securities, the following:

                 (A) the  estimated  spread of Farm Credit  Securities  over the
         Treasury  Yield for such day,  as  reported  in a Farm  Credit  Funding
         Corporation Interest Rate Summary report, and

                 (B) the estimated dealer  concession,  obtained by a polling of
         Farm  Credit  Funding  Corporation  dealers  on the  Business  Day next
         preceding  the  Redemption  Date,  for issuing  Farm Credit  Securities
         having a weighted  average life equal to the number of days between the
         Redemption  Date and Maturity for Securities of the Second Series to be
         redeemed.

In the  event any fact  required  for such  calculation  is not  available,  the
computation  of  Discount  Rate  shall  be made  on the  basis  of a  reasonably
equivalent method of determination.

SECTION 2.03. Sinking Fund for Securities of the Second Series.

                  So long as any  Securities  of the Second  Series shall remain
Outstanding,  the Company  shall  redeem One  Million  Six  Hundred  Sixty-Seven
Thousand Dollars  ($1,667,000)  aggregate  principal amount of Securities of the
Second Series on or before January 31, 2000 and  semi-annually on or before each
July 31 and January 31 thereafter to and including July 31, 2012 at a Redemption
Price equal to par plus interest accrued to the Redemption Date.


                                  ARTICLE THIRD

                Additional Covenants for First and Second Series

SECTION 3.01. Asset Sale Restrictions for the First and Second Series.

                  (A) So long as any  Securities  of the First or Second  Series
remain  Outstanding,  if the Company requests the release of Property  Additions
pursuant to Section  1003 or 1004 of the  Indenture  (other than for purposes of
sales of  property  pursuant  to or under  threat,  reasonably  believed  by the
Company to be genuine,  of the exercise of a power of eminent  domain or for tax
exempt  financing  pursuant to Section  1009 of the  Indenture),  the  Officer's
Certificate  filed in connection  with such release shall  identify the Property
Additions that are to be so released.

                  (B) So long as any  Securities  of the First or Second  Series
remain Outstanding,  if the aggregate amount of Property Additions released upon
such basis  during any  calendar  year shall  exceed ten per centum (10%) of the
amount of Net Property  Additions  shown in the most recent  Property  Additions
Certificate  filed with the Trustee,  then the Company shall promptly notify the
Trustee  and, if there is only one Holder of  Securities  of such  Series,  such
Holder;  and the Company shall within  forty-five days thereafter redeem or have
otherwise retired (other than pursuant to Section 2.03 of this First

<PAGE>

                                      -8-

Supplemental  Indenture),  except to the extent waived,  an aggregate  principal
amount of Securities of such Series equal to the amount of such excess.

                  (C) So long as any  Securities  of the First or Second  Series
remain Outstanding,  if the aggregate amount of Property Additions released upon
such  basis  shall  exceed  twenty  five per  centum  (25%) of the amount of Net
Property Additions shown in the most recent Property Additions Certificate filed
with the Trustee,  then the Company  shall  promptly  notify the Trustee and, if
there is only one Holder of  Securities  of such Series,  such  Holder;  and the
Company shall within forty-five days thereafter redeem or have otherwise retired
(other than  pursuant  to Section  2.03 of this First  Supplemental  Indenture),
except to the extent waived, an aggregate principal amount of Securities of such
Series equal to the amount of such excess.

                  (D) With respect to the  redemptions  described in  paragraphs
(B) and (C)  above,  the  Company  shall  receive  a credit  for any  Securities
(excluding   Securities   redeemed  pursuant  to  Section  2.03  of  this  First
Supplemental  Indenture)  of the First or  Second  Series  retired  prior to the
respective  Redemption  Date.  With  respect  to the  redemptions  described  in
paragraphs (B) and (C) above,  the Redemption Price shall be the First or Second
Series General  Redemption  Price,  respectively,  plus interest  accrued to the
Redemption  Date. Such redemption  shall be prorated among Holders of Securities
of the First or Second Series except to the extent waived;  any Holder may waive
its right to such  redemption by delivering a written waiver to the Trustee,  in
such form as the  Trustee  shall deem  acceptable,  with a copy to the  Company,
within ten days after the date of such notice of redemption.

                  (E) Unless  otherwise agreed with a majority of the Holders of
the  Securities  of the  First  or  Second  Series  to be  Outstanding  after  a
redemption  under this Section,  the Securities  redeemed under this Section may
not be used as a credit for the redemption of Securities provided for in Section
2.03 of this First Supplemental Indenture.

SECTION 3.02. Ownership by Minnesota Power & Light Company.

                  So long as any Securities of the First or Second Series remain
Outstanding,  if the  Company's  entire  common  stock  shall cease to be owned,
directly or indirectly,  by Minnesota  Power & Light Company,  then the Company
shall promptly notify the Trustee and, if there is only one Holder of Securities
of such Series,  such Holder;  and the Company shall redeem,  within ninety days
thereafter and upon at least thirty days' notice,  all of the Securities of such
Series then Outstanding at the First or Second Series General  Redemption Price,
respectively,  plus interest  accrued to the Redemption Date. Any Holder of such
Series may waive its right to such  redemption by delivering a written waiver to
the Trustee,  in such form as the Trustee shall deem acceptable,  with a copy to
the Company, within ten days after the date of such notice of redemption.

SECTION 3.03. Additional Debt Covenants.

                 (A) So long as any  Securities  of the First or  Second  Series
shall remain  Outstanding,  the Company shall file a Cash Flow  Certificate with
the  Trustee  on or before  March 31 of each  calendar  year  after 1993 for the
period of twelve consecutive  calendar months ending January 31 of such calendar
year and  stating  the  ratio  of its  Total  Debt  divided  by its  Cash  Flow,
determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting  principles existing
as of  the  date  of  this  First  Supplemental  Indenture,  as  shown  by  such
certificate ("Annual Total Debt/Cash Flow Ratio"). If the Annual Total Debt/Cash
Flow Ratio  shall  exceed the  maximums  specified  below for the  corresponding
period:

<PAGE>
                                      -9-

           Twelve Month                               
          Period Ending                           Maximum Total Debt/
           January 31,                             Cash Flow Ratio
          -------------                           -------------------

              1994                                       25:1
              1995                                       18:1
              1996 and thereafter                        15:1

then the Company  shall  promptly  notify the Trustee  and, if there is only one
Holder of Securities of such Series,  such Holder; and the Company shall redeem,
within ninety days thereafter and upon at least thirty days' notice, a principal
amount of the Securities of such Series then Outstanding sufficient to cause the
Annual Total  Debt/Cash  Flow Ratio,  determined  in accordance  with  generally
accepted   accounting   principles  existing  as  of  the  date  of  this  First
Supplemental  Indenture,  to equal the appropriate maximum. The Redemption Price
shall be the First or Second Series General Redemption Price, respectively, plus
interest  accrued to the  Redemption  Date.  The  Holders  of a majority  of the
Securities  of such  Series  then  Outstanding  may  waive  such  redemption  by
delivering a written  waiver to the Trustee,  in such form as the Trustee  shall
deem acceptable,  with a copy to the Company,  within ten days after the date of
such notice of redemption.

                  (B) So long as any  Securities  of the  First or Second Series
shall remain Outstanding, the Company shall file with the Trustee, on or before
March 31 of each calendar year, an Accountant's Certificate showing as of
January 31 of such calendar year (1) the aggregate  principal amount of
Securities then Outstanding and (2) the net book value of property, plant and
equipment, determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles existing as of the date of this First Supplemental  Indenture,  which
constitute Property Additions.  If such aggregate principal amount of Securities
then Outstanding exceeds sixty per centum (60%) of the net book value of such
property, plant and equipment then the Company shall promptly notify the Trustee
and, if there is only one Holder of Securities of the First or Second Series, 
such Holder; and the Company shall redeem,  within ninety days thereafter and
upon at least thirty days' notice,  a principal amount of the Securities of such
Series then Outstanding sufficient to cause the aggregate  principal  amount of
Securities  then  Outstanding to equal sixty  per  centum  (60%) of the net book
value of such  property,  plant  and equipment.  The  Redemption  Price shall be
the First or Second  Series  General Redemption  Price,  respectively,  plus
interest accrued to the Redemption Date. The Holders of a majority of the
Securities of such Series then  Outstanding may waive such  redemption  by
delivering a written  waiver to the Trustee,  in such form as the Trustee shall
deem  acceptable,  with a copy to the Company,  within ten days after the date
of such notice of redemption.

                  (C) So long as any  Securities  of the First or Second  Series
shall remain Outstanding,  the Company shall file with the Trustee, on or before
March 31 of each  calendar  year,  an  Accountant's  Certificate  showing  as of
January 31 of such calendar year (1) the Total Debt of the Company,  and (2) the
Company's  Capitalization,  determined in  accordance  with  generally  accepted
accounting  principles  existing  as of the  date  of  this  First  Supplemental
Indenture.   If  such  Total  Debt  exceeds   sixty-five  per  centum  (65%)  of
Capitalization, then the Company shall promptly notify the Trustee and, if there
is only one Holder of  Securities of such Series,  such Holder;  and the Company
shall  redeem,  within  ninety days  thereafter  and upon at least  thirty days'
notice,  a principal  amount of the  Securities of such Series then  Outstanding
sufficient to cause Total Debt to equal not more than  sixty-five per centum 
(65%) of  Capitalization,  determined  in  accordance  with  generally  accepted
accounting  principles  existing  as of the  date  of  this  First  Supplemental
Indenture. The Redemption Price shall be the First or Second Series

<PAGE>

                                      -10-

General Redemption Price, respectively,  plus interest accrued to the Redemption
Date.  The  Holders  of a  majority  of  the  Securities  of  such  Series  then
Outstanding  may waive such  redemption  by  delivering a written  waiver to the
Trustee,  in such form as the Trustee shall deem acceptable,  with a copy to the
Company, within ten days after the date of such notice of redemption.

                  (D) So long as any  Securities  of the First or Second  Series
shall remain  Outstanding,  the Holders of a majority of the  Securities of such
Series then Outstanding may, from time to time but not more than once during any
calendar year,  upon thirty days notice,  request that the Company file with the
Trustee, as of the end of any calendar month other than December, within sixty
days after the end of such month, the Cash Flow Certificate  provided in Section
3.03(A)  and the  Accountant's  Certificates  provided  in Section  3.03(B)  and
3.03(C) of this First  Supplemental  Indenture.  The same redemption  provisions
shall apply as if such Cash Flow Certificate and  Accountant's  Certificates had
been  delivered  pursuant to such  Section  3.03(A),  3.03(B) or 3.03(C) of this
First Supplemental Indenture,  using with respect to Section 3.03(A) the maximum
for the period ending on the January 31 next preceding such calendar  month,  or
if such  calendar  month is before  January 31,  1994,  then the maximum for the
period ending January 31, 1994.

                  (E) Unless  otherwise  agreed by a majority  of the Holders of
the  Securities  of the  First  or  Second  Series  to be  Outstanding  after  a
redemption  under this Section,  the Securities  redeemed under this Section may
not be used as a credit for the redemption of Securities provided for in Section
2.03 of this First Supplemental Indenture.

SECTION 3.04. Restricted Payments.

                  So long as any  Securities of the First or Second Series shall
remain Outstanding, the Company shall not declare or pay any Restricted Payments
unless the Company files an  Accountant's  Certificate  with the Trustee and, if
there is only one  Holder of  Securities  of such  Series,  sends a copy to such
Holder, within thirty days prior to such declaration or payment stating that (A)
the amount of such  payment  shall not exceed  cumulative  net  additions  to or
deductions  from  Surplus,  determined  in accordance  with  generally  accepted
accounting  principles  existing  as of the  date  of  this  First  Supplemental
Indenture, made after December 31, 1992 (excluding any gains on sale of Property
Additions  during the  immediately  preceding  12 months in excess of twenty per
centum (20%) of the net additions to Surplus made during such 12 month  period);
and (B) that  after such  payment  Capital  plus  Surplus  shall  equal at least
thirty-five  per centum (35%) of  Capitalization,  determined in accordance with
generally accepted  accounting  principles existing as of the date of this First
Supplemental Indenture.

SECTION 3.05. Redemption Upon Taking of Property by Eminent Domain, etc.

                  So long as any  Securities of the First or Second Series shall
remain Outstanding, any Officer's Certificate provided under Section 1006 of the
Indenture  shall  also  state  the net  book  value  of the  Mortgaged  Property
described  therein as taken or sold,  and shall also state the net book value of
such   Mortgaged   Property  that  does  not  constitute   Property   Additions.
Notwithstanding  anything  to the  contrary  contained  in  Section  1006 of the
Indenture,  should the aggregate net book value of Mortgaged  Property  taken by
the exercise of the power of eminent domain or sold to an entity  possessing the
power of eminent domain, or to its designee, under a threat, reasonably believed
by the Company to be  genuine,  to  exercise  the same,  be in excess of Fifteen
Million Dollars ($15,000,000),  the Company, shall redeem, within ninety days of
such taking or sale and upon at least  thirty  days  notice,  or have  otherwise
retired,  except to the extent waived,  a pro-rata  amount of Securities of such
Series then Outstanding at the

<PAGE>
                                      -11-

Redemption  Price of par plus  interest  accrued to the  Redemption  Date.  Such
pro-rata  amount shall be  calculated  by dividing (1) the  aggregate  amount of
Property  Additions  so taken or sold plus the  aggregate  net book value of all
Mortgaged  Property so taken or sold which are not Property Additions by (2) the
amount of Net Property  Additions  shown on the most recent  Property  Additions
Certificate  filed with the Trustee and multiplying  such ratio by the aggregate
principal amount of Securities of such Series then Outstanding.  Such redemption
shall be prorated  among  Holders of  Securities  of such  Series  except to the
extent waived; any Holder may waive its right to such redemption by delivering a
written  waiver  to the  Trustee,  in  such  form  as  the  Trustee  shall  deem
acceptable,  with a copy to the Company,  within ten days after the date of such
notice  of  redemption;  such  waiver  shall not  cause a  recalculation  of the
proration.

SECTION 3.06. Maintenance of Business.

                  So long as any Securities of the First or Second Series remain
Outstanding,  if the Company ceases to continue substantially in the business of
providing  water and waste water utility  service in the State of Florida,  then
the Company shall  promptly  notify the Trustee and, if there is only one Holder
of Securities of such Series, such Holder; and the Company shall redeem,  within
ninety days and upon at least thirty days notice,  all of the Securities of such
Series then Outstanding at the First or Second Series General  Redemption Price,
respectively, plus interest accrued to the Redemption Date. Any Holder may waive
its right to such  redemption by delivering a written waiver to the Trustee,  in
such form as the  Trustee  shall deem  acceptable,  with a copy to the  Company,
within ten days after the date of such notice of redemption.

SECTION 3.07. Return of Redemption Moneys upon Waiver.

                  Upon receipt of any waiver of  redemption  by any Holder,  the
Trustee shall return to the Company the  redemption  money,  if any, held by the
Trustee for the redemption of such Holder's Securities.

SECTION 3.08. Special Merger Provisions.

                  (A) So long as any  Securities  of the First or Second  Series
remain  Outstanding,  the Company  shall not merge or  consolidate  with another
entity  unless the Company  shall have filed with the Trustee,  and, if there is
only one  Holder  of  Securities  of such  Series,  such  Holder,  an  Officer's
Certificate  stating  that (1) the Company or an entity  directly or  indirectly
owned one hundred per centum (100%) by Minnesota  Power & Light Company shall be
the  continuing  and  surviving  corporation  and,  (2)  after  such  merger  or
consolidation,  there shall exist no Event of Default or event  which,  with the
lapse of time or  giving  of  notice,  or  both,  would  constitute  an Event of
Default,  and the  Company  shall be able to issue at least One  Dollar  ($1) of
Securities under the provisions of Section 401 or 501 of the Indenture,  in each
case, using a Cash Flow Certificate stating an Annual Total Debt/Cash Flow Ratio
not to exceed the  maximums  specified  in  Section  3.03(A)  hereof  (using the
maximum for the period ending on the January 31 next preceding  such merger,  or
if such  merger is before  January  31,  1994,  then the  maximum for the period
ending  January  31,  1994)  rather than the Cash Flow  Certificate  provided in
Section 301(d) of the Indenture.

                  (B) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may consolidate
or merge with Lehigh  Utilities,  Inc. So long as any Securities of the First or
Second  Series  remain  Outstanding,  if the  Company  shall not have  merged or
consolidated with Lehigh Utilities, Inc. by April 30, 1993, then the Company

<PAGE>
                                      -12-

shall cause, within ninety days thereafter,  all of the outstanding common stock
of Lehigh Utilities, Inc. to be subjected to the Lien of the Indenture. When all
such  Securities  cease to be Outstanding or upon such merger or  consolidation,
the Trustee shall release such stock upon receipt of a Company Order  requesting
such release and stating the basis therefor.

SECTION 3.09. Additional Property.

                  (A) So long as any  Securities  of the First or Second  Series
remain Outstanding, the Deltona System Assets shall be released from the Lien of
the Mortgage and Deed of Trust described in paragraph J of the Excepted Property
Clause of the  Original  Indenture,  on or before  December  31,  1994;  and the
Company and the  Trustee,  upon the request of the  Company,  shall,  as soon as
practicable, by supplemental indenture, delete such paragraph J and subject such
property, other than Excepted Property, to the Lien of the Indenture.

                  (B) So long as any  Securities  of the First or Second  Series
remain  Outstanding,  when the Marco Island System Assets shall be released from
the Lien of the Mortgage and Security Agreements described in paragraph K of the
Excepted Property Clause of the Original Indenture, the Company and the Trustee,
upon the request of the Company, shall, as soon as practicable,  by supplemental
indenture,  delete  such  paragraph  K and  subject  such  property,  other than
Excepted Property, to the Lien of the Indenture.

                  (C) So long as any  Securities  of the First or Second  Series
remain  Outstanding,  when the Lehigh  Assets shall be released from the Lien of
the  Mortgage,  Security  Agreement and  Assignment  of Rents  described  in
paragraph L of the Excepted Property Clause of the Original  Indenture,  and the
Company, upon the request of the Company, shall have consolidated or merged with
Lehigh  Utilities,  Inc.,  the  Company  and  the  Trustee  shall,  as  soon  as
practicable, by supplemental indenture, delete such paragraph L and subject such
property, other than Excepted Property, to the Lien of the Indenture.

SECTION 3.10. Refinancing of the Deltona Debt.

                  The  Company  shall  be  exempt  from  filing  the  Cash  Flow
Certificate  provided  in  Section  301(d)  of the  Indenture  with  respect  to
Securities issued to refinance Fifteen Million Dollars ($15,000,000) in debt due
December 1, 1994 pursuant to the Mortgage and Deed of Trust dated as of December
1, 1984 from Deltona Utilities, Inc. (Southern States Utilities, Inc., successor
in interest) to Southeast  Bank,  N.A.  (First Union  National  Bank of Florida,
successor  in  interest)  as trustee.  The Company  shall  instead file with the
Trustee an Officer's  Certificate stating that the proceeds of the Securities to
be  authenticated  and  delivered  will be used to refinance the debt secured by
such Mortgage and Deed of Trust and that the Deltona System  Assets,  other than
Excepted  Property,  will be subjected to the Lien of the  Indenture  reasonably
contemporaneously with the delivery of such Securities.

SECTION 3.11. Bond Purchase Agreement.

                  So long as National Bank for Cooperatives  ("CoBank") shall be
the sole owner of all Securities of the First or Second Series then Outstanding,
the Company shall  redeem,  within ten days,  an aggregate  principal  amount of
Securities  of  such  Series,  the  redemption  of  which  is  demanded,   in  a
certificate,  signed by the President,  any Vice President or any Assistant Vice
President of CoBank,  stating that CoBank is entitled to such  redemption  under
the Bond Purchase Agreement dated March 31, 1993 between CoBank and the Company,
describing the event giving CoBank such right of redemption, and

<PAGE>

                                      -13-

stating  that  such  redemption  is  required  by  terms of such  Bond  Purchase
Agreement.  The  Redemption  Price shall be the First or Second  Series  General
Redemption Price, respectively, plus interest accrued to the Redemption Date.

SECTION 3.12. Property Additions Certificates.

                  So long as any  Securities of the First or Second Series shall
remain Outstanding, the Company shall file a Property Additions Certificate with
the Trustee at least once during each calendar year.

SECTION 3.13. Amendment to Indenture: Acceleration.

                  So long as the aggregate principal amount of Securities of the
First or Second Series then Outstanding  exceeds twenty-five per centum (25%) of
the aggregate principal amount of Securities of all series then Outstanding, the
words  "twenty-five  per  centum  (25%)"  shall  be  substituted  for the  words
"thirty-three  and  one-third  per  centum  (33  1/3%)" in  Section  1102 of the
Original  Indenture.  In case any  Securities  of the First or Second Series are
paid by reason of a declaration of acceleration  pursuant to Section 1102 of the
Original  Indenture,  the Company shall pay to the Holders of such  Securities a
premium  equal to the  Prepayment  Surcharge,  calculated as provided in Section
1.02 of this First  Supplemental  Indenture with respect to the First Series and
Section  2.02 of this First  Supplemental  Indenture  with respect to the Second
Series,  multiplied  by the  aggregate  principal  amount of such  Securities so
accelerated,  provided  that the  payment  of such  premium  does not render the
Company insolvent.  If the aggregate principal amount of Securities of the First
or Second Series then  Outstanding  exceeds  twenty-five per centum (25%) of the
aggregate  principal  amount of Securities of all series then Outstanding and an
Event of Default shall exist, then the Holders of the Securities of the First or
Second  Series may  demand the  redemption  of such  Securities  of the First or
Second  Series held by them upon ten days written  notice to the Company and the
Trustee.  The  Redemption  Price  shall be the  First or Second  Series  General
Redemption Price, respectively, plus interest accrued to the Redemption Date.

SECTION 3.14. Amendment to Indenture; Gains from the Sale of Property.

                  The  Company  may  include   gains  from  the  sale  or  other
disposition  of property,  in an amount not to exceed twenty per centum (20%) of
its net income after tax, in calculating Cash Flow under the Indenture.

SECTION 3.15. Redemptions on a Business Day

                  In the event any Redemption Date for a redemption  required by
Section  2.03 hereof  shall not be a Business  Day,  interest  on the  principal
amount then due shall accrue to and be paid on the next Business  Day;  provided
that the  Company  may, at its  option,  upon ten (10) days prior  notice to the
Trustee and the Holders,  satisfy a  redemption  required by Section 2.03 on the
Business Day prior to the applicable Redemption Date at a Redemption Price equal
to par plus interest  accrued to such prior  Business Day. Any other  Redemption
Date for  Securities  of the First  Series or the  Second  Series  shall be on a
Business Day.

<PAGE>
                                      -14-

SECTION 3.16. Amendment or Waiver of Covenants.

                  The provisions of this Article Third may be waived or amended,
at the request of the  Company,  with the  written  consent of the Holders of at
least a majority of the  aggregate  principal  amount of the  Securities  of the
First or Second  Series then  Outstanding.  So long as the  aggregate  principal
amount of  Securities  of the First or Second  Series then  Outstanding  exceeds
twenty-five per centum (25%) of the aggregate  principal amount of Securities of
all series then  Outstanding,  the  provisions of this Article Third may not be
waived nor  amended  without  the  written  consent of the Holders of at least a
majority of the aggregate  principal amount of Securities of the First or Second
Series then Outstanding, except as otherwise specifically provided herein.

SECTION 3.17. Clarification of Permitted Liens.

                  The Permitted  Liens described in Clause (1) of the definition
of  Permitted  Liens in the  Original  Indenture  shall  not  include  any Liens
securing  indebtedness for borrowed money,  whether or not set forth or referred
to in the descriptions of the property specifically described in Granting Clause
First.

                  Clause (18) of the  definition of Permitted Liens in the 
Original  Indenture is hereby amended to read as follows:

                      "(18)  Liens which have been bonded for the full
                 amount of such Liens or for the  payment of which the
                 Company  has  deposited  with the  Trustee or with an
                 escrow  agent  cash or  other  property  with a value
                 equal to the full amount of such Liens;"


                                  ARTICLE FOURTH
                                  Miscellaneous

SECTION 4.01. Definitions.

                  Subject  to  the   amendments   provided  for  in  this  First
Supplemental  Indenture,  the terms defined in the Original Indenture shall, for
all purposes of this First Supplemental  Indenture,  have the meanings specified
in the Original Indenture.

SECTION 4.02. Acceptance of Trust.

                  The Trustee hereby accepts the trust herein created and agrees
to perform the same upon the terms and  conditions  herein and in the  Indenture
set forth and upon the following terms and conditions:

                  The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner  whatsoever
           for or in  respect  to the  validity  or  sufficiency  of this  First
           Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained
           herein,  all of which  recitals  are made by the  Company  alone.  In
           general  each and  every  term and  condition  contained  in  Article
           Sixteen of the  Indenture  shall apply to and form part of this First
           Supplemental  Indenture with the same force and effect as if the same
           were

<PAGE>
                                       -15-

           herein  set  forth  in  full  with  such  omissions,  variations  and
           insertions, if any, as may be appropriate to make the same conform to
           the provisions of this First Supplemental Indenture.

SECTION 4.03. Successors and Assigns.

                  Whenever in this First  Supplemental  Indenture  either of the
parties hereto is named or referred to, this shall, subject to the provisions of
Articles Fifteen and Sixteen the Indenture,  be deemed to include the successors
and assigns of such party,  and all the covenants  and  agreements in this First
Supplemental  Indenture  contained by or on behalf of the  Company,  or by or on
behalf of the Trustee, or either of them, shall, subject as aforesaid,  bind and
inure to the  respective  benefits of the  respective  successors and assigns of
such parties, whether so expressed or not.

SECTION 4.04. Benefit of the Parties.

                  Nothing in this First  Supplemental  Indenture,  expressed  or
implied, is intended, or shall be construed,  to confer upon, or to give to, any
person,  firm or  corporation,  other than the parties hereto and the Holders of
the Securities Outstanding under the Indenture, any right, remedy or claim under
or by reason of this First  Supplemental  Indenture or any covenant,  condition,
stipulation,  promise or agreement hereof, and all the covenants, conditions,
stipulations,  promises  and  agreements  in this First  Supplemental  Indenture
contained  by or on behalf of the  Company  shall be for the sole and  exclusive
benefit of the parties hereto and of the Holders of the  Securities  Outstanding
under the Indenture.

SECTION 4.05. Counterparts.

                  This First Supplemental Indenture shall be executed in several
counterparts,  each  of  which  shall  be an  original  and all of  which  shall
constitute but one and the same instrument.

<PAGE>

                                      -16-

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  Southern  States  Utilities,  Inc. has
caused this  Supplemental Indenture to be executed in its  corporate name by its
President or one of its Vice Presidents and its corporate seal to be hereunto
affixed and to be attested by its Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries,
and  NationsBank  of Georgia,  National  Association, to evidence its acceptance
hereof, has caused this  Supplemental Indenture to be executed in its corporate
name  by its President or one of its Vice  Presidents or Assistant  Vice 
Presidents  and its corporate  seal to be hereunto affixed and to be attested by
one of its Vice Presidents, its Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries, 
in  several counterparts, all as of the day and year first above written.


                                           SOUTHERN STATES UTILITIES, INC.



                                           By: Scott W. Vierima
                                               --------------------------------
                                               Scott W. Vierima, Vice President


Attest:


Karla Olson Teasley
- --------------------------------
Karla Olson Teasley, Secretary


In the presence of:


Richard P. Ausman
- --------------------------------
Richard P. Ausman


Alan C. Roline
- --------------------------------
Alan C. Roline

<PAGE>

                                      -17-

                                        
                                             NATIONSBANK OF GEORGIA,
                                               NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee


                                             By:  Sandra Carreker
                                                -------------------------------
                                                       Vice President
                                                  Sandra Carreker

Attest:

Harry Evans
- --------------------------------
       Vice President
Harry Evans


In the presence of:

Sabrina Fuller
- --------------------------------
Sabrina Fuller


Kathy E. Knapp
- --------------------------------
Kathy E. Knapp

<PAGE>

                                      -18-


STATE OF GEORGIA              )
                              ) SS.:
COUNTY OF FULTON              )


                  The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this 29th
day of March, 1993, by SANDRA G. CARREKER as Vice President and HARRY G. EVANS
as Vice President of NationsBank of Georgia, National Association, a national 
banking association, on behalf of the company. They are both personally known to
me and each did take an oath.


                                           Jeannette S. Belt
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Jeannette S. Belt
                                           Notary Public, DeKalb County, Georgia
                                           My Commission Expires March 26, 1994


<PAGE>

                                      -19-

STATE OF FLORIDA                    )
                                    ) SS.:
COUNTY OF ORANGE                    )


                  The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this 31
day of March, 1993, by SCOTT W. VIERIMA as Vice President and KARLA OLSON 
TEASLEY as Secretary of Southern States Utilities, Inc., a Florida corporation,
on behalf of the company. They are both personally known to me and each did take
an oath.



                                       Lisa Freeman Schutz
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                            Lisa Freeman Schutz
                                       Notary Public, State of Florida at Large
                                       Commission Number CC123276
                                       My Commission Expires July 22, 1995


                                   [SEAL]     LISA FREEMAN SCHUTZ
                                             MY COMMISSION EXPIRES
                                                 JULY 22, 1995
                                       BONDED THRU TROY FAIN INSURANCE, INC.



</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-4.I
<SEQUENCE>7
<DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 4(I)
<TEXT>

<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 4(i)
<PAGE>


                         Minnesota Power & Light Company

                              OFFICER'S CERTIFICATE


         James K. Vizanko, the Treasurer of Minnesota Power & Light Company (the
"Company"),  pursuant to the authority  granted in the Board  Resolutions of the
Company dated March 20, 1996, and Sections 201 and 301 of the Indenture  defined
herein, does hereby certify to The Bank of New York (the "Trustee"),  as Trustee
under the Indenture of the Company (For Unsecured  Subordinated  Debt Securities
relating to Trust Securities) dated as of March 1, 1996 (the "Indenture") that:
                  
         1.       The  securities  of the first  series  to be issued  under the
                  Indenture  shall  be  designated  "8.05%  Junior  Subordinated
                  Debentures,  Series A, Due 2015" (the "Debentures of the First
                  Series").  The Debentures of the First Series are to be issued
                  to MP&L Capital I, a Delaware  statutory  business  trust (the
                  "Trust"). All capitalized terms used in this certificate which
                  are not defined herein but are defined in the Indenture  shall
                  have the meanings set forth in the Indenture;

         2.       The  Debentures  of the  First  Series  shall  be  limited  in
                  aggregate principal amount to $77,500,000 at any time
                  Outstanding,  except as  contemplated in Section 301(b) of the
                  Indenture;

         3.       The  Debentures  of the  First  Series  shall  mature  and the
                  principal  shall be due and payable  together with all accrued
                  and unpaid interest thereon on December 31, 2015;

         4.       The  Debentures of the First Series shall bear interest  from,
                  and including,  the date of original issuance,  at the rate of
                  8.05% per annum payable quarterly in arrears on March 31, June
                  30,  September  30 and  December  31 of each  year  (each,  an
                  "Interest Payment Date") commencing March 31, 1996. The amount
                  of  interest  payable  for any such period will be computed on
                  the basis of a 360-day  year of twelve  30-day  months and for
                  any  period  shorter  than a full  month,  on the basis of the
                  actual number of days elapsed in such period.  Interest on the
                  Debentures   of  the  First  Series  will  accrue  from,   and
                  including,  the date of original  issuance and will accrue to,
                  and including, the first Interest Payment Date, and thereafter
                  will accrue from,  and  excluding,  the last Interest  Payment
                  Date through  which  interest  has been paid or duly  provided
                  for.  In the event  that any  Interest  Payment  Date is not a
                  Business  Day,  then payment of interest  payable on such date
                  will be made on the next  succeeding  day which is a  Business
                  Day (and without any  interest or other  payment in respect of
                  such delay),  except that, if such Business Day is in the next
                  succeeding  calendar  year,  such payment shall be made on the
                  immediately preceding Business Day, in each case with the same
                  force and effect as if made on such Interest Payment Date;

         5.       Each  installment  of  interest  on a  Debenture  of the First
                  Series  shall be  payable  to the  Person  in whose  name such
                  Debenture  of the First Series is  registered  at the close of
                  business  on  the   Business   Day  15  days   preceding   the
                  corresponding  Interest  Payment 

<PAGE>
                  Date (the  "Regular  Record  Date") for the  Debentures of the
                  First Series; provided, however, that if the Debentures of the
                  First Series are held neither by the Trust nor by a securities
                  depositary,  the  Company  shall  have the right to change the
                  Regular Record Date by one or more Officer's Certificates. Any
                  installment  of interest on the Debentures of the First Series
                  not punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease
                  to be payable to the Holders of such  Debentures  of the First
                  Series on such  Regular  Record  Date,  and may be paid to the
                  Persons in whose name the  Debentures  of the First Series are
                  registered  at the close of business on a Special  Record Date
                  to be fixed by the Trustee  for the payment of such  Defaulted
                  Interest. Notice of such Defaulted Interest and Special Record
                  Date shall be given to the  Holders of the  Debentures  of the
                  First  Series  not less  than 10 days  prior  to such  Special
                  Record  Date,  or may be paid at any time in any other  lawful
                  manner  not   inconsistent   with  the   requirements  of  any
                  securities  exchange  on which  the  Debentures  of the  First
                  Series may be listed,  and upon such notice as may be required
                  by such exchange, all as more fully provided in the Indenture;

         6.       The  principal  and  each   installment  of  interest  on  the
                  Debentures  of the  First  Series  shall be  payable  at,  and
                  registration  and  registration  of transfers and exchanges in
                  respect of the  Debentures of the First Series may be effected
                  at,  the  office or agency of the  Company  in The City of New
                  York;  provided  that  payment of interest  may be made at the
                  option of the  Company by check  mailed to the  address of the
                  persons entitled thereto under the Indenture. Notices, demands
                  to or upon the  Company in respect  of the  Debentures  of the
                  First  Series  may be  served  at the  office or agency of the
                  Company in The City of New York. The Trustee will initially be
                  the agency of the  Company  for such  service  of notices  and
                  demands;  provided,  however,  that the Company  reserves  the
                  right to change,  by one or more  Officer's  Certificates  any
                  such  office  or  agency.  The  Company  will be the  Security
                  Registrar and the Paying Agent for the Debentures of
                  the First Series;

         7.       The  Debentures  of the First Series will be  redeemable on or
                  after March 20, 2001 at the option of the Company, at any time
                  and from time to time,  in whole or in part,  at a  redemption
                  price equal to 100% of the principal  amount of the Debentures
                  of the First Series being redeemed,  together with any accrued
                  interest,  including  Additional  Interest,  if  any,  to  the
                  redemption  date, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days'
                  notice  given  as  provided  in the  Indenture.  The  Company,
                  however,  may not redeem less than all Outstanding  Debentures
                  of the First  Series  unless the  conditions  specified in the
                  last paragraph of this item are met;

                  The  Debentures of the First Series will also be redeemable at
                  any time at the option of the Company upon the  occurrence and
                  during  the  continuation  of a Tax  Event  or  an  Investment
                  Company Event in whole but not in part, at a redemption  price
                  equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Debentures of the
                  First  Series  then  Outstanding  plus any  accrued and unpaid
                  interest,  including  Additional  Interest,  if  any,  to  the
                  redemption  date, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days'
                  notice given as provided in the  Indenture.  "Tax Event" means
                  the  receipt by the Trust of an opinion of counsel  (which may
                  be counsel to the Company or an affiliate  but not an employee
                  thereof and which must be acceptable  to the Property  Trustee
                  under the Trust 

                                        -2-
<PAGE>
                  Agreement)  experienced in such matters to the effect that, as
                  a  result  of any  amendment  to,  or  change  (including  any
                  announced prospective change) in, the laws (or any regulations
                  thereunder) of the United States or any political  subdivision
                  or taxing authority thereof or therein affecting taxation,  or
                  as  a  result  of  any  official  administrative  or  judicial
                  decision  interpreting  or applying such laws or  regulations,
                  which  amendment or change is effective or such  pronouncement
                  or  decision  is  announced  on or after the date of  original
                  issuance of the 8.05%  Cumulative  Quarterly  Income Preferred
                  Securities of the Trust (the "Preferred Securities"), there is
                  more than an insubstantial risk that (i) the Trust is, or will
                  be  within  90 days of the date  thereof,  subject  to  United
                  States federal  income tax with respect to income  received or
                  accrued on the  Debentures of the First Series,  (ii) interest
                  payable by the Company on the  Debentures of the First Series,
                  is not,  or  within 90 days of the date  thereof  will not be,
                  deductible,  in whole or in part,  for United  States  federal
                  income tax purposes,  or (iii) the Trust is, or will be within
                  90 days of the date thereof, subject to more than a de minimis
                  amount of other taxes,  duties or other governmental  charges.
                  "Investment Company Event" means the occurrence of a change in
                  law or regulation or a change in interpretation or application
                  of  law  or  regulation  by  any  legislative   body,   court,
                  governmental agency or regulatory authority to the effect that
                  the Trust is or will be  considered  an  "investment  company"
                  that is required to be registered under the Investment Company
                  Act of 1940, as amended, which change in law becomes effective
                  on or after the date of  original  issuance  of the  Preferred
                  Securities.

                  The Debentures of the First Series will also be redeemable, in
                  whole but not in part,  at the option of the Company  upon the
                  termination  and liquidation of the Trust pursuant to an order
                  for the  dissolution,  termination or liquidation of the Trust
                  entered by a court of competent  jurisdiction  at a redemption
                  price equal to 100% of the principal  amount of the Debentures
                  of the First  Series  then  Outstanding  plus any  accrued and
                  unpaid interest, including Additional Interest, if any, to the
                  redemption  date, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days'
                  notice given as provided in the Indenture.

                  The Company may not redeem less than all the Debentures of the
                  First  Series   Outstanding  unless  all  accrued  and  unpaid
                  interest (including any Additional  Interest) has been paid in
                  full on all Debentures of the First Series  Outstanding  under
                  the Indenture for all quarterly  interest periods  terminating
                  on or  prior  to  the  date  of  redemption  or  if a  partial
                  redemption  of the  Preferred  Securities  would  result  in a
                  delisting  of  such  securities  by  any  national  securities
                  exchange on which they are then listed;

         8.       So long as any Debentures of the First Series are Outstanding,
                  the failure of the Company to pay  interest on any  Debentures
                  of the First Series  within 30 days after the same becomes due
                  and  payable  (whether  or not  payment is  prohibited  by the
                  provisions  of  Article   Fifteen  of  the  Indenture)   shall
                  constitute  an Event of  Default;  provided,  however,  that a
                  valid extension of the interest  payment period by the Company
                  as  contemplated in Section 311 of the Indenture and paragraph
                  (9) of this Certificate  shall not constitute a failure to pay
                  interest for this purpose;

                                        -3-
<PAGE>

         9.       Pursuant to Section 311 of the  Indenture,  the Company  shall
                  have the right,  at any time and from time to time  during the
                  term of the  Debentures  of the First  Series,  to extend  the
                  interest   payment   period  to  a  period  not  exceeding  20
                  consecutive  quarters  (an  "Extension  Period")  during which
                  period  interest will be compounded  quarterly.  At the end of
                  the  Extension  Period,  the  Company  shall pay all  interest
                  accrued and unpaid (together with interest thereon at the rate
                  specified for the  Debentures of the First Series,  compounded
                  quarterly,   to  the  extent  permitted  by  applicable  law).
                  However,  during any such Extension Period,  the Company shall
                  not declare or pay any dividend or distribution  (other than a
                  dividend or  distribution  in common stock of the Company) on,
                  or redeem,  purchase,  acquire or make a  liquidation  payment
                  with respect to, any of its capital stock, or make any payment
                  of  principal,  interest  or  premium  , if any,  on or repay,
                  repurchase or redeem any indebtedness  that is pari passu with
                  the Debentures of the First Series (including other Securities
                  issued under the  Indenture),  or make any guarantee  payments
                  with respect to the foregoing. Prior to the termination of any
                  such  Extension  Period,  the Company  may further  extend the
                  interest  payment period,  provided that such Extension Period
                  together with all such previous and further extensions thereof
                  shall not exceed 20  consecutive  quarters  at any one time or
                  extend beyond the maturity date of the Debentures of the First
                  Series.  Upon the termination of any such Extension Period and
                  the payment of all amounts  then due, the Company may select a
                  new Extension Period,  subject to the above  requirements.  No
                  interest shall be due and payable during an Extension  Period,
                  except at the end thereof.  The Company will give the Trust or
                  other  Holders  and the Trustee  notice of its  election of an
                  Extension  Period prior to the earlier of (i) one Business Day
                  prior to the  record  date for the  distribution  which  would
                  occur but for such  election  or (ii) the date the  Company is
                  required  to give  notice to the New York  Stock  Exchange  or
                  other  applicable  self-regulatory  organization of the record
                  date;

         10.      In the  event  that,  at any time  subsequent  to the  initial
                  authentication  and  delivery of the  Debentures  of the First
                  Series, the Debentures of the First Series are to be held by a
                  securities depositary,  the Company may at such time establish
                  the matters contemplated in clause (r) in the second paragraph
                  of Section 301 of the  Indenture in an  Officer's  Certificate
                  supplemental to this Certificate;

         11.      No  service  charge  shall  be made  for the  registration  of
                  transfer or exchange of the  Debentures  of the First  Series;
                  provided,  however,  that the Company may require payment of a
                  sum sufficient to cover any tax or other  governmental  charge
                  that  may be  imposed  in  connection  with  the  exchange  or
                  transfer;

         12.      The Debentures of the First Series shall have such other terms
                  and  provisions  as are  provided  in the  form  set  forth in
                  Exhibit A hereto,  and shall be issued in  substantially  such
                  form;

         13.      In the  event  that the  Debentures  of the First  Series  are
                  distributed to holders of the Preferred Securities as a result
                  of the  occurrence  of (i) a Tax  Event or (ii) an  Investment
                  Company  Event or (iii) at any time during  which the Trust is
                  not or will not be taxed as a  grantor  trust  but a Tax Event
                  has not  occurred,  the Company  will 

                                        -4-
<PAGE>
                  use its best  efforts  to list  the  Debentures  of the  First
                  Series  on the  New  York  Stock  Exchange  or on  such  other
                  exchange as the Preferred Securities are then listed;

         14.      The  undersigned  has read all of the covenants and conditions
                  contained  in the  Indenture  relating to the  issuance of the
                  Debentures  of the First  Series  and the  definitions  in the
                  Indenture  relating  thereto  and in  respect  of  which  this
                  certificate is made;

         15.      The statements  contained in this  certificate  are based upon
                  the  familiarity of the  undersigned  with the Indenture,  the
                  documents accompanying this certificate,  and upon discussions
                  by the undersigned  with officers and employees of the Company
                  familiar with the matters set forth herein;

         16.      In  the  opinion  of  the   undersigned,   he  has  made  such
                  examination  or  investigation  as is  necessary to express an
                  informed  opinion whether or not such covenants and conditions
                  have been complied with; and

         17.      In  the  opinion  of  the  undersigned,  such  conditions  and
                  covenants and  conditions  precedent,  if any  (including  any
                  covenants   compliance  with  which  constitutes  a  condition
                  precedent)   to  the   authentication   and  delivery  of  the
                  Debentures of the First Series  requested in the  accompanying
                  Company Order have been complied with.

                                        -5-
<PAGE>
         
         IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  undersigned  has  executed  this  Officer's
Certificate this 20th day of March, 1996.


                                                         James K. Vizanko
                                                       ------------------------
                                                         James K. Vizanko
                                                           Treasurer


                                        -6-
<PAGE>

No. R-1

                                                                   EXHIBIT A
 
                         MINNESOTA POWER & LIGHT COMPANY

                 8.05% JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES, SERIES A,
                                    DUE 2015
         
         MINNESOTA  POWER & LIGHT  COMPANY,  a  corporation  duly  organized and
existing  under  the laws of the  State  Minnesota  (herein  referred  to as the
"Company",  which term includes any successor  Person under the Indenture),  for
value received,  hereby promises to pay to  ____________________,  or registered
assigns,  the principal sum of  _________________  Dollars on December 31, 2015,
and to pay interest on said principal sum, from and including, March 20, 1996 or
from,  and  excluding,  the most recent  Interest  Payment  Date  through  which
interest  has been paid or duly  provided  for,  quarterly on March 31, June 30,
September 30 and December 31 of each year, commencing March 31, 1996 at the rate
of 8.05% per annum  until the  principal  hereof is paid or made  available  for
payment.  The amount of interest  payable on any Interest  Payment Date shall be
computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. Interest on the
Securities  of this series  will  accrue  from,  and  including,  March 20, 1996
through the first Interest  Payment Date, and thereafter will accrue,  from, and
excluding,  the last Interest  Payment Date through which interest has been paid
or duly  provided  for.  In the event that any  Interest  Payment  Date is not a
Business Day, then payment of interest  payable on such date will be made on the
next  succeeding  day which is a Business Day (and without any interest or other
payment in respect of such delay),  except that,  if such Business Day is in the
next  succeeding  calendar year,  such payment shall be made on the  immediately
preceding  Business  Day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made
on the Interest  Payment Date. The interest so payable,  and punctually  paid or
duly  provided  for,  on any  Interest  Payment  Date will,  as provided in such
Indenture,  be paid to the  Person in whose name this  Security  (or one or more
Predecessor  Securities)  is  registered at the close of business on the Regular
Record Date for such interest, which shall be the Business Day 15 days preceding
such  Interest  Payment Date.  Any such interest not so punctually  paid or duly
provided  for will  forthwith  cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular
Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or
one or more Predecessor  Securities) is registered at the close of business on a
Special  Record Date for the payment of such  Defaulted  Interest to be fixed by
the Trustee,  notice  whereof  shall be given to Holders of  Securities  of this
series not less than 10 days prior to such Special  Record  Date,  or be paid at
any time in any other lawful manner not  inconsistent  with the  requirements of
any  securities  exchange on which the  Securities of this series may be listed,
and upon such  notice as may be  required  by such  exchange,  all as more fully
provided in the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof.

         Payment of the  principal of and premium,  if any, and interest on this
Security will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that
purpose in The City of New York,  the State of New York in such coin or currency
of the United  States of  America as at the time of payment is legal  tender for
payment of public and private debts,  provided,  however, that, at the 



<PAGE>

option of the Company,  interest on this Security may be paid by check mailed to
the address of the person  entitled thereto, as such address shall appear on the
Security Register.

         Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set
forth on the reverse  hereof,  which further  provisions  shall for all purposes
have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

         Unless the  certificate of  authentication  hereon has been executed by
the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Security
shall  not be  entitled  to any  benefit  under  the  Indenture  or be  valid or
obligatory for any purpose.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the Company has caused this instrument to be duly
executed.

                                         MINNESOTA POWER & LIGHT COMPANY


                                         By:
                                            ----------------------------------

ATTEST:


- ----------------------------



                          CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

Dated: March 20, 1996

                  This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein
referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

                                         THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as Trustee


                                         By:
                                            ----------------------------------
                                                   Authorized Signatory

                                        -2-
<PAGE>

                    REVERSE OF JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURE

                  This Security is one of a duly authorized  issue of securities
of the Company (herein called the "Securities"),  issued and to be issued in one
or more series under an Indenture,  dated as of March 1, 1996 (herein,  together
with any amendments thereto,  called the "Indenture",  which term shall have the
meaning assigned to it in such instrument),  between the Company and The Bank of
New York,  as Trustee  (herein  called the  "Trustee",  which term  includes any
successor  trustee  under the  Indenture),  and  reference is hereby made to the
Indenture,  including the Board Resolutions and Officer's Certificate filed with
the Trustee on March 20, 1996 creating the series designated on the face hereof,
for a statement of the  respective  rights,  limitations  of rights,  duties and
immunities  thereunder  of the  Company,  the  Trustee  and the  Holders  of the
Securities  and of the terms  upon  which  the  Securities  are,  and are to be,
authenticated  and delivered.  This Security is one of the series  designated on
the face hereof, limited in aggregate principal amount to $77,500,000.

                  The  Securities of this series are subject to redemption  upon
not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice by mail,  at any time on or after
March 20,  2001 as a whole or in part,  at the  election  of the  Company,  at a
Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount,  together in the case of
any such redemption with accrued interest to, but not including,  the Redemption
Date,  but interest  installments  whose Stated  Maturity is on or prior to such
Redemption  Date will be payable to the Holder of such Security,  or one or more
Predecessor  Securities,  of  record  at the close of  business  on the  related
Regular  Record  Date  referred  to on the face  hereof,  all as provided in the
Indenture.

                  The  Securities  of this series will also be redeemable at the
option of the Company if a Tax Event or an Investment  Company Event shall occur
and be continuing, in whole but not in part, at a redemption price equal to 100%
of the principal  amount of the Securities of this series then  Outstanding plus
any accrued and unpaid interest,  including Additional Interest,  if any, to the
redemption  date,  upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days'  notice given as
provided in the  Indenture.  "Tax Event"  means the receipt by MP&L Capital I, a
Delaware  statutory business trust (the "Trust") of an opinion of counsel (which
may be counsel to the Company or an  affiliate  but not an employee  thereof and
which must be  acceptable  to the Property  Trustee  under the Trust  Agreement)
experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of any amendment to,
or change  (including  any  announced  prospective  change) in, the laws (or any
regulations  thereunder)  of the United States or any political  subdivision  or
taxing authority  thereof or therein affecting  taxation,  or as a result of any
official  administrative or judicial decision interpreting or applying such laws
or regulations,  which amendment or change is effective or such pronouncement or
decision is  announced  on or after the date of  original  issuance of the 8.05%
Cumulative  Quarterly Income  Preferred  Securities of the Trust (the "Preferred
Securities"), there is more than an insubstantial risk that (i) the Trust is, or
will be within 90 days of the date  thereof,  subject to United  States  federal
income tax with respect to income  received or accrued on the  Securities,  (ii)
interest payable by the Company on the Securities,  is not, or within 90 days of
the date thereof will not be, deductible, in whole or in part, for United States
federal income tax purposes, or (iii) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days of
the date  thereof,  subject  to more than a de  minimis  amount of other  taxes,
duties or other  governmental  charges.  "Investment  Company  Event"  means the
occurrence  of a change in law or regulation  or a change in  interpretation  or
application of law or regulation by any legislative  body,  court,  governmental
agency  or  regulatory  authority  to the  effect  that the  Trust is or will be
considered an "investment  company" that is required to be registered  under the
Investment  Company  Act of  1940,  as  amended,  which  change  in law  becomes
effective on or after the date of original issuance of the Preferred Securities.

                                        -3-
<PAGE>
                  The  Securities  of this  series will also be  redeemable,  in
whole but not in part,  at the option of the Company  upon the  termination  and
liquidation of the Trust pursuant to an order for the  dissolution,  termination
or  liquidation of the Trust entered by a court of competent  jurisdiction  at a
redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Securities of this
series  then  Outstanding  plus  any  accrued  and  unpaid  interest,  including
Additional  Interest,  if any, to the redemption date, upon not less than 30 nor
more than 60 days' notice given as provided in the Indenture.

                  In the event of  redemption  of this  Security in part only, a
new Security or Securities  of this series and of like tenor for the  unredeemed
portion  hereof  will be  issued  in the  name of the  Holder  hereof  upon  the
cancellation hereof.

                  The indebtedness  evidenced by this Security is, to the extent
provided in the Indenture,  subordinated  and subject in right of payment to the
prior  payment in full of all Senior  Indebtedness,  and this Security is issued
subject to the provisions of the Indenture with respect thereto.  Each Holder of
this  Security,  by accepting the same, (a) agrees to and shall be bound by such
provisions,  (b)  authorizes  and directs the Trustee on his behalf to take such
action as may be necessary or  appropriate  to  acknowledge  or  effectuate  the
subordination so provided and (c) appoints the Trustee his  attorney-in-fact for
any and all such purposes.  Each Holder hereof, by his acceptance hereof, hereby
waives all notice of the acceptance of the  subordination  provisions  contained
herein and in the Indenture by each holder of Senior  Indebtedness,  whether now
outstanding or hereafter incurred,  and waives reliance by each such Holder upon
said provisions.

                  The Indenture  contains  provisions for defeasance at any time
of the  entire  indebtedness  of this  Security  upon  compliance  with  certain
conditions set forth in the Indenture.

                  If an Event of  Default  with  respect to  Securities  of this
series shall occur and be  continuing,  the principal of the  Securities of this
series  may be  declared  due and  payable  in the  manner  and with the  effect
provided in the Indenture.

                  The  Indenture  permits,  with certain  exceptions  as therein
provided,  the  amendment  thereof  and  the  modification  of  the  rights  and
obligations  of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the  Securities  of
each series to be affected  under the  Indenture  at any time by the Company and
the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of
the  Securities  at the time  Outstanding  of all  series  to be  affected.  The
Indenture  also  contains   provisions   permitting  the  Holders  of  specified
percentages  in principal  amount of the  Securities  of each series at the time
Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive
compliance  by the Company with certain  provisions of the Indenture and certain
past defaults  under the Indenture and their  consequences.  Any such consent or
waiver by the Holder of this Security  shall be conclusive and binding upon such
Holder and upon all future  Holders of this Security and of any Security  issued
upon the  registration  of  transfer  hereof or in  exchange  herefor or in lieu
hereof,  whether  or not  notation  of such  consent or waiver is made upon this
Security.

                  As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture,
the Holder of this Security shall not have the right to institute any proceeding
with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or
for any other remedy thereunder,  unless such Holder shall have previously given
the Trustee written notice of a continuing  Event of Default with respect to the
Securities of this series,  the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate
principal  amount of the  Securities  of all series at the time  Outstanding  in
respect of which an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing shall
have made written request to the Trustee to institute  proceedings in 

                                        -4-
<PAGE>
respect of such Event of Default as Trustee and  offered the Trustee  reasonable
indemnity,  and the  Trustee  shall  not have  received  from the  Holders  of a
majority in aggregate  principal  amount of Securities of all series at the time
Outstanding  in respect of which an Event of Default  shall have occurred and be
continuing a direction  inconsistent with such request, and shall have failed to
institute any such proceeding, for 60 days after receipt of such notice, request
and offer of indemnity.  The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by
the Holder of this  Security  for the  enforcement  of any payment of  principal
hereof or any premium or interest  hereon on or after the  respective  due dates
expressed herein.

                  No reference  herein to the Indenture and no provision of this
Security  or of the  Indenture  shall  alter or  impair  the  obligation  of the
Company,  which is absolute and  unconditional,  to pay the principal of and any
premium and interest on this Security at the times,  place and rate,  and in the
coin or currency, herein prescribed.

                  The  Company  has the  right at any time and from time to time
during the term of the Securities of this series to extend the interest  payment
period to a period not exceeding 20 consecutive  quarters (an "Extended Interest
Payment Period"),  and at the end of such Extended Interest Payment Period,  the
Company shall pay all interest then accrued and unpaid  (together  with interest
thereon  at the  same  rate as  specified  for the  Securities  of this  series,
compounded  quarterly,  to the extent  permitted by applicable  law);  provided,
however, that during such Extended Interest Payment Period the Company shall not
declare  or  pay  any  dividend  or  distribution  (other  than  a  dividend  or
distribution in common stock of the Company) on, or redeem, purchase, acquire or
make a liquidation  payment with respect to, any of its capital  stock,  or make
any payment of principal on, interest or premium if any, on or repay, repurchase
or redeem any indebtedness that is pari passu with the Securities of this series
(including other Securities  issued under the Indenture),  or make any guarantee
payments with respect to the  foregoing.  Prior to the  termination  of any such
Extended  Interest  Payment Period,  the Company may further extend the interest
payment period,  provided that such Extended  Interest Payment Period,  together
with all such  previous  and  further  extensions  thereof,  may not  exceed  20
consecutive  quarters or extend beyond the Stated  Maturity of the Securities of
this series.  Upon the termination of any such Extended  Interest Payment Period
and the payment of all amounts  then due,  the Company may select a new Extended
Interest Payment Period,  subject to the above requirements.  No interest during
the Extended  Interest Payment Period,  except at the end thereof,  shall be due
and payable.  The Company shall give the Holder of this  Security  notice of its
selection of such Extended Interest Payment Period as provided in or pursuant to
the Indenture.

                  The  Securities of this series are issuable only in registered
form without coupons in denominations of $25 and any integral  multiple thereof.
As provided in the  Indenture  and  subject to certain  limitations  therein set
forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal
amount  of  Securities  of this  series  and of  like  tenor  and of  authorized
denominations, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

                  As  provided  in  the  Indenture,  the  Company  shall  not be
required to make  transfers  or  exchanges  of  Securities  of this series for a
period of 15 days immediately preceding the date of the mailing of any notice of
redemption  of such  Securities  and the  Company  shall not be required to make
transfers  or  exchanges  of any  Securities  of this  series  so  selected  for
redemption in whole or in part (except the unredeemed portion of thereof).

                                        -5-
<PAGE>
                  No service charge shall be made for any such  registration  of
transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to
cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

                  The  Company,  the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the
Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this  Security is  registered  as the
absolute owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue,
and  neither  the  Company,  the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by
notice to the contrary.

                  All  terms  used in this  Security  which are  defined  in the
Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

                                        -6-


</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-4.K
<SEQUENCE>8
<DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 4(K)
<TEXT>

<PAGE>

                                                                  Exhibit 4(k)
<PAGE>

                   ------------------------------------------



                                ADESA Corporation

                                       TO

                              THE BANK OF NEW YORK,

                                                Trustee



                                    ---------


                                    Indenture
                         (For Unsecured Debt Securities)



                            Dated as of May 15, 1996




                   ------------------------------------------


<PAGE>



                                TABLE OF CONTENTS


PARTIES......................................................................  1

RECITAL OF THE COMPANY.......................................................  1

ARTICLE ONE..................................................................  1

Definitions and Other Provisions of General Application......................  1
         SECTION 101.  Definitions...........................................  1
                  Act........................................................  2
                  Affiliate..................................................  2
                  Authenticating Agent.......................................  2
                  Authorized Officer.........................................  2
                  Board of Directors.........................................  2
                  Board Resolution...........................................  2
                  Business Day...............................................  2
                  Commission.................................................  2
                  Company....................................................  3
                  Company Request............................................  3
                  Company Order..............................................  3
                  Corporate Trust Office.....................................  3
                  corporation................................................  3
                  Defaulted Interest.........................................  3
                  Dollar.....................................................  3
                  $..........................................................  3
                  Event of Default...........................................  3
                  Governmental Authority.....................................  3
                  Government Obligations.....................................  3
                  Holder.....................................................  3
                  Indenture..................................................  4
                  Interest Payment Date......................................  4
                  Maturity...................................................  4
                  Officer's Certificate......................................  4
                  Opinion of Counsel.........................................  4
                  Outstanding................................................  4
                  Paying Agent...............................................  5
                  Person.....................................................  5
                  Place of Payment...........................................  5
                  Predecessor Security.......................................  5
                  Redemption Date............................................  5
                  Redemption Price...........................................  5
                  Regular Record Date........................................  5
                  Responsible Officer........................................  5
                  Securities.................................................  5
                  Security Register..........................................  5
                  Security Registrar.........................................  5
                  Special Record Date........................................  6


Note: This table of contents shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be 
part of the Indenture.
<PAGE>

                                       ii


                  Stated Maturity............................................  6
                  Trust Indenture Act........................................  6
                  Trustee....................................................  6
                  United States..............................................  6
         SECTION 102.  Compliance Certificates and Opinions..................  6
         SECTION 103.  Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee................  7
         SECTION 104.  Acts of Holders.......................................  8
         SECTION 105.  Notices, etc. to Trustee and Company..................  9
         SECTION 106.  Notice to Holders of Securities; Waiver............... 10
         SECTION 107.  Conflict with Trust Indenture Act..................... 11
         SECTION 108.  Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.............. 11
         SECTION 109.  Successors and Assigns................................ 11
         SECTION 110.  Separability Clause................................... 11
         SECTION 111.  Benefits of Indenture................................. 11
         SECTION 112.  Governing Law......................................... 11
         SECTION 113.  Legal Holidays........................................ 11

ARTICLE TWO.................................................................. 12

Security Forms............................................................... 12
         SECTION 201.  Forms Generally....................................... 12
         SECTION 202.  Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication....... 12

ARTICLE THREE................................................................ 13

The Securities............................................................... 13
         SECTION 301.  Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series.................. 13
         SECTION 302.  Denominations......................................... 16
         SECTION 303.  Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating........ 16
         SECTION 304.  Temporary Securities.................................. 18
         SECTION 305.  Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange... 18
         SECTION 306.  Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities...... 19
         SECTION 307.  Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved........ 20
         SECTION 308.  Persons Deemed Owners................................. 21
         SECTION 309.  Cancellation by Security Registrar.................... 21
         SECTION 310.  Computation of Interest............................... 22

ARTICLE FOUR................................................................. 22

Redemption of Securities..................................................... 22
         SECTION 401.  Applicability of Article.............................. 22
         SECTION 402.  Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee................. 22
         SECTION 403.  Selection of Securities to Be Redeemed................ 23
         SECTION 404.  Notice of Redemption.................................. 23
         SECTION 405.  Securities Payable on Redemption Date................. 24
         SECTION 406.  Securities Redeemed in Part........................... 25

Note: This table of contents shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be 
part of the Indenture.
<PAGE>
                                       iii

ARTICLE FIVE................................................................. 25

Sinking Funds................................................................ 25
         SECTION 501.  Applicability of Article.............................. 25
         SECTION 502.  Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities. 25
         SECTION 503.  Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund............. 26

ARTICLE SIX.................................................................. 26

Covenants.................................................................... 26
         SECTION 601.  Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest............ 26
         SECTION 602.  Maintenance of Office or Agency....................... 27
         SECTION 603.  Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust..... 27
         SECTION 604.  Corporate Existence................................... 29
         SECTION 605.  Maintenance of Properties............................. 29
         SECTION 606.  Annual Officer's Certificate as to Compliance......... 29
         SECTION 607.  Waiver of Certain Covenants........................... 29

ARTICLE SEVEN................................................................ 30

Satisfaction and Discharge................................................... 30
         SECTION 701.  Defeasance............................................ 30
         SECTION 702.  Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture............... 32
         SECTION 703.  Application of Trust Money............................ 33

ARTICLE EIGHT................................................................ 33

Events of Default; Remedies.................................................. 33
         SECTION 801.  Events of Default..................................... 33
         SECTION 802.  Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.... 35
         SECTION 803.  Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement
                       by Trustee............................................ 36
         SECTION 804.  Trustee May File Proofs of Claim...................... 36
         SECTION 805.  Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of 
                       Securities............................................ 37
         SECTION 806.  Application of Money Collected........................ 37
         SECTION 807.  Limitation on Suits................................... 38
         SECTION 808.  Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal,
Premium and Interest......................................................... 38
         SECTION 809.  Restoration of Rights and Remedies.................... 39
         SECTION 810.  Rights and Remedies Cumulative........................ 39
         SECTION 811.  Delay or Omission Not Waiver.......................... 39
         SECTION 812.  Control by Holders of Securities...................... 39
         SECTION 813.  Waiver of Past Defaults............................... 40
         SECTION 814.  Undertaking for Costs................................. 40
         SECTION 815.  Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws...................... 40

ARTICLE NINE................................................................. 41

Note: This table of contents shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be 
part of the Indenture.

<PAGE>
                                       iv

The Trustee.................................................................. 41
         SECTION 901.  Certain Duties and Responsibilities................... 41
         SECTION 902.  Notice of Defaults.................................... 41
         SECTION 903.  Certain Rights of Trustee............................. 41
         SECTION 904.  Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of 
                       Securities............................................ 43
         SECTION 905.  May Hold Securities................................... 43
         SECTION 906.  Money Held in Trust................................... 43
         SECTION 907.  Compensation and Reimbursement........................ 43
         SECTION 908.  Disqualification; Conflicting Interests............... 44
         SECTION 909.  Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility............... 44
         SECTION 910.  Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor..... 45
         SECTION 911.  Acceptance of Appointment by Successor................ 47
         SECTION 912.  Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession 
                       to Business........................................... 48
         SECTION 913.  Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company..... 48
         SECTION 914.  Co-trustees and Separate Trustees..................... 49
         SECTION 915.  Appointment of Authenticating Agent................... 50

ARTICLE TEN.................................................................. 52

Holders' Lists and Reports by Trustee and Company............................ 52
         SECTION 1001.  Lists of Holders..................................... 52
         SECTION 1002.  Reports by Trustee and Company....................... 52

ARTICLE ELEVEN............................................................... 53

Consolidation, Merger, Conveyance or Other Transfer ......................... 53
         SECTION 1101.  Company May Consolidate, etc., Only on Certain 
                        Terms................................................ 53
         SECTION 1102.  Successor Corporation Substituted.................... 53

ARTICLE TWELVE............................................................... 54

Supplemental Indentures...................................................... 54
         SECTION 1201.  Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of 
                        Holders.............................................. 54
         SECTION 1202.  Supplemental Indentures With Consent of 
                        Holders.............................................. 55
         SECTION 1203.  Execution of Supplemental Indentures................. 57
         SECTION 1204.  Effect of Supplemental Indentures.................... 57
         SECTION 1205.  Conformity With Trust Indenture Act.................. 57
         SECTION 1206.  Reference in Securities to Supplemental 
                        Indentures........................................... 57
         SECTION 1207.  Modification Without Supplemental Indenture.......... 58

ARTICLE THIRTEEN............................................................. 58

Meetings of Holders; Action Without Meeting.................................. 58
         SECTION 1301.  Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called............ 58
         SECTION 1302.  Call, Notice and Place of Meetings................... 58
         SECTION 1303.  Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings................. 59
         SECTION 1304.  Quorum; Action....................................... 59

Note: This table of contents shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be 
part of the Indenture.

<PAGE>
                                       v

         SECTION 1305.  Attendance at Meetings; Determination of Voting 
Rights; Conduct and Adjournment of Meetings.................................. 60
         SECTION 1306.  Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings...... 61
         SECTION 1307.  Action Without Meeting............................... 61

ARTICLE FOURTEEN............................................................. 62

Immunity of Incorporators, Stockholders, Officers and Directors.............. 62
         SECTION 1401.  Liability Solely Corporate........................... 62

ARTICLE FIFTEEN.............................................................. 62

Securities of the First Series............................................... 62
         SECTION 1501.  Designation of Securities of the First Series........ 62

Testimonium.................................................................. 63

Signatures and Seals......................................................... 63

Acknowledgements............................................................. 65


Note: This table of contents shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be 
part of the Indenture.
<PAGE>


                  INDENTURE,   dated  as  of  May  15,   1996,   between   ADESA
Corporation,  a corporation  duly  organized and existing  under the laws of the
State of Indiana (herein called the "Company"),  having its principal  office at
1919 S. Post Road,  Indianapolis,  Indiana  46239,  and THE BANK OF NEW YORK,  a
corporation  of the State of New York,  having  its  principal  corporate  trust
office at 101  Barclay  Street,  New York,  New York 10286,  as Trustee  (herein
called the "Trustee").

                             RECITAL OF THE COMPANY

                  The Company has duly  authorized the execution and delivery of
this  Indenture to provide for the issuance  from time to time of its  unsecured
debentures,  notes  or  other  evidences  of  indebtedness  (herein  called  the
"Securities"), in an unlimited aggregate principal amount to be issued in one or
more  series  as  contemplated  herein;  and all  acts  necessary  to make  this
Indenture a valid agreement of the Company have been performed.

                  For  all  purposes  of this  Indenture,  except  as  otherwise
expressly provided or unless the context otherwise  requires,  capitalized terms
used  herein  shall have the  meanings  assigned  to them in Article One of this
Indenture.

                  NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

                  For and in  consideration  of the premises and the purchase of
the Securities by the Holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for
the equal and  proportionate  benefit of all Holders of the Securities or of any
series thereof, as follows:


                                   ARTICLE ONE

             Definitions and Other Provisions of General Application

SECTION 101.  Definitions.

                  For  all  purposes  of this  Indenture,  except  as  otherwise
expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:
      
               (a) the terms defined in this Article have the meanings  assigned
      to them in this Article and include the plural as well as the singular;

               (b) all terms used herein without definition which are defined in
      the Trust Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the
      meanings assigned to them therein;

               (c) all  accounting  terms not otherwise  defined herein have the
      meanings assigned to them in accordance with generally accepted accounting
      principles in the United States, and, except as otherwise herein expressly
      provided, the term "generally accepted accounting principles" with respect
      to any  computation  required  or  permitted  hereunder  shall  mean  such
      accounting  principles as are  generally  accepted in the United States at
      the date of such  computation or, at the election of the Company from time
      to time,  at the date of the  execution  and  delivery of this  Indenture;
      provided,  however,  that in  determining  generally  accepted  
 
<PAGE>

                                      -2-

      accounting principles applicable to the Company, the Company shall, to the
      extent  required,  conform  to  any  order,  rule  or  regulation  of  any
      administrative  agency,  regulatory  authority or other  governmental body
      having jurisdiction over the Company; and

               (d) the words "herein",  "hereof" and "hereunder" and other words
      of  similar  import  refer  to this  Indenture  as a whole  and not to any
      particular Article, Section or other subdivision.

               Certain terms,  used  principally in Article Nine, are defined in
that Article.

               "Act",  when used with  respect to any Holder of a Security,  has
the meaning specified in Section 104.

               "Affiliate"  of any  specified  Person  means  any  other  Person
directly or indirectly  controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect
common control with such specified Person.  For the purposes of this definition,
"control"  when used with  respect to any  specified  Person  means the power to
direct the  management  and policies of such Person,  directly or through one or
more  intermediaries,  whether  through the ownership of voting  securities,  by
contract  or  otherwise;  and the  terms  "controlling"  and  "controlled"  have
meanings correlative to the foregoing.

               "Authenticating  Agent" means any Person  (other than the Company
or an Affiliate of the Company)  authorized  by the Trustee  pursuant to Section
915 to act on  behalf  of the  Trustee  to  authenticate  one or more  series of
Securities.

               "Authorized  Officer"  means  the  Chairman  of  the  Board,  the
President,  any Vice President,  the Treasurer,  any Assistant Treasurer, or any
other officer or agent of the Company duly  authorized by the Board of Directors
to act in respect of matters relating to this Indenture.

               "Board of  Directors"  means either the board of directors of the
Company or any  committee  thereof duly  authorized to act in respect of matters
relating to this Indenture.

               "Board Resolution" means a copy of a resolution  certified by the
Secretary or an Assistant  Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by
the Board of  Directors  and to be in full  force and effect on the date of such
certification, and delivered to the Trustee.

               "Business  Day",  when used with respect to a Place of Payment or
any other  particular  location  specified in the Securities or this  Indenture,
means any day,  other  than a Saturday  or  Sunday,  which is not a day on which
banking  institutions  or trust  companies  in such  Place of  Payment  or other
location are generally  authorized  or required by law,  regulation or executive
order to remain closed,  except as may be otherwise specified as contemplated by
Section 301.

               "Commission"  means the  Securities and Exchange  Commission,  as
from time to time  constituted,  created  under the  Securities  Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, or, if at any time after the date of execution and delivery of
this  Indenture  such  Commission is not existing and  performing the duties now
assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body, if any,  performing
such duties at such time.

<PAGE>
                                     -3-

               "Company"  means the Person  named as the  "Company" in the first
paragraph  of this  Indenture  until a successor  Person  shall have become such
pursuant  to  the  applicable  provisions  of  this  Indenture,  and  thereafter
"Company" shall mean such successor Person.

               "Company  Request" or "Company  Order" means a written request or
order signed in the name of the Company by an  Authorized  Officer and delivered
to the Trustee.

               "Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the Trustee at which
at any  particular  time its  corporate  trust  business  shall  be  principally
administered,  which  office  at the  date of  execution  and  delivery  of this
Indenture is located at 101 Barclay Street, New York, New York 10286.

               "corporation" means a corporation, association, company, limited
liability company, joint stock company or business trust.

               "Defaulted Interest" has the meaning specified in Section 307.

               "Dollar" or "$" means a dollar or other  equivalent  unit in such
coin or currency of the United  States as at the time shall be legal  tender for
the payment of public and private debts.

               "Event of Default" has the meaning specified in Section 801.

               "Governmental  Authority"  means  the  government  of the  United
States or of any State or Territory thereof or of the District of Columbia or of
any county, municipality or other political subdivision of any of the foregoing,
or any  department,  agency,  authority or other  instrumentality  of any of the
foregoing.

               "Goverment Obligations" means:

                       (a) direct  obligations  of, or obligations the principal
               of and interest on which are  unconditionally  guaranteed by, the
               United  States and  entitled to the benefit of the full faith and
               credit thereof; and

                       (b)   certificates,    depositary   receipts   or   other
               instruments  which  evidence  a  direct  ownership   interest  in
               obligations  described  in clause  (a)  above or in any  specific
               interest or principal payments due in respect thereof;  provided,
               however,  that the  custodian  of such  obligations  or  specific
               interest or principal  payments  shall be a bank or trust company
               (which may include the  Trustee or any Paying  Agent)  subject to
               Federal  or state  supervision  or  examination  with a  combined
               capital  and  surplus  of at  least  $50,000,000;  and  provided,
               further,  that except as may be otherwise  required by law,  such
               custodian  shall  be  obligated  to pay to the  holders  of  such
               certificates,  depositary  receipts or other instruments the full
               amount received by such custodian in respect of such  obligations
               or  specific  payments  and  shall not be  permitted  to make any
               deduction therefrom.

               "Holder" means a Person in whose name a Security is registered in
the Security Register.

<PAGE>
                                     -4-

               "Indenture"  means this  instrument  as  originally  executed and
delivered and as it may from time to time be  supplemented  or amended by one or
more  indentures  supplemental  hereto  entered into pursuant to the  applicable
provisions  hereof  and  shall  include  the  terms of a  particular  series  of
Securities established as contemplated by Section 301.

               "Interest  Payment Date", when used with respect to any Security,
means the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on such Security.

               "Maturity",  when used with  respect to any  Security,  means the
date on which the  principal  of such  Security or an  installment  of principal
becomes  due and payable as  provided  in such  Security  or in this  Indenture,
whether at the Stated Maturity,  by declaration of  acceleration,  upon call for
redemption or otherwise.

               "Officer's   Certificate"   means  a  certificate  signed  by  an
Authorized Officer and delivered to the Trustee.

               "Opinion of Counsel" means a written opinion of counsel, who may
be counsel for the Company, or other counsel acceptable to the Trustee.

               "Outstanding", when used with respect to Securities, means, as of
the  date  of  determination,   all  Securities  theretofore  authenticated  and
delivered under this Indenture, except:

                    (a)  Securities  theretofore  canceled  by  the  Trustee  or
               delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

                    (b) Securities  deemed to have been paid in accordance  with
               Section 701; and

                    (c) Securities  which have been paid pursuant to Section 306
               or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been
               authenticated  and delivered  pursuant to this  Indenture,  other
               than any such  Securities  in respect of which  there  shall have
               been  presented to the Trustee proof  satisfactory  to it and the
               Company that such Securities are held by a bona fide purchaser or
               purchasers in whose hands such  Securities are valid  obligations
               of the Company;

provided,  however,  that  in  determining  whether  or not the  Holders  of the
requisite  principal amount of the Securities  Outstanding under this Indenture,
or the  Outstanding  Securities of any series,  have given any request,  demand,
authorization,  direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder or whether or not
a quorum is present at a meeting of Holders of Securities,  Securities  owned by
the Company or any other  obligor upon the  Securities  or any  Affiliate of the
Company or of such other  obligor  (unless the Company,  such  Affiliate or such
obligor owns all Securities Outstanding under this Indenture, or all Outstanding
Securities of each such series, as the case may be, determined without regard to
this provision)  shall be disregarded  and deemed not to be Outstanding,  except
that, in determining  whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any
such request,  demand,  authorization,  direction,  notice, consent or waiver or
upon any such

<PAGE>
                                     -5-

determination as to the presence of a quorum,  only Securities which the Trustee
knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded; provided, however, that Securities
so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if
the pledgee  establishes to the  satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee's right
so to act with  respect  to such  Securities  and that  the  pledgee  is not the
Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company
or of such  other  obligor;  and  provided,  further,  that,  in the case of any
Security the principal of which is payable from time to time without presentment
or surrender,  the principal  amount of such Security that shall be deemed to be
Outstanding at any time for all purposes of this Indenture shall be the original
principal  amount  thereof  less  the  aggregate  amount  of  principal  thereof
theretofore paid.

               "Paying   Agent"  means  any  Person,   including   the  Company,
authorized  by the  Company to pay the  principal  of, and  premium,  if any, or
interest, if any, on any Securities on behalf of the Company.

               "Person" means any individual,  corporation,  partnership,  joint
venture, trust or unincorporated organization or any Governmental Authority.

               "Place of Payment",  when used with respect to the  Securities of
any series, means the place or places, specified as contemplated by Section 301,
at which,  subject  to  Section  602,  principal  of and  premium,  if any,  and
interest, if any, on the Securities of such series are payable.

               "Predecessor  Security" of any  particular  Security  means every
previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced
by such  particular  Security;  and,  for the purposes of this  definition,  any
Security  authenticated  and  delivered  under Section 306 in exchange for or in
lieu of a mutilated,  destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be deemed (to the
extent  lawful) to evidence the same debt as the mutilated,  destroyed,  lost or
stolen Security.

               "Redemption  Date",  when used with respect to any Security to be
redeemed,  means  the date  fixed for such  redemption  by or  pursuant  to this
Indenture.

               "Redemption  Price", when used with respect to any Security to be
redeemed,  means  the  price  at  which it is to be  redeemed  pursuant  to this
Indenture.

               "Regular  Record Date" for the  interest  payable on any Interest
Payment Date on the  Securities of any series means the date  specified for that
purpose as contemplated by Section 301.

               "Responsible  Officer",  when used with  respect to the  Trustee,
means any officer of the  Trustee  assigned  by the  Trustee to  administer  its
corporate trust matters.

               "Securities"  has the meaning stated in the first recital of this
Indenture and more particularly means any securities authenticated and delivered
under this Indenture.

               "Security Register" and "Security  Registrar" have the respective
meanings specified in Section 305.

<PAGE>
                                     -6-

               "Special  Record Date" for the payment of any Defaulted  Interest
on the  Securities  of any series means a date fixed by the Trustee  pursuant to
Section 307.

               "Stated  Maturity",  when used with respect to any  obligation or
any  installment  of principal  thereof or interest  thereon,  means the date on
which the  principal  of such  obligation  or such  installment  of principal or
interest is stated to be due and payable  (without  regard to any provisions for
redemption, prepayment, acceleration, purchase or extension).

               "Trust  Indenture Act" means, as of any time, the Trust Indenture
Act of 1939, or any successor statute, as in effect at such time.

               "Trustee"  means the Person  named as the  "Trustee" in the first
paragraph of this  Indenture  until a successor  Trustee  shall have become such
with  respect to one or more series of  Securities  pursuant  to the  applicable
provisions of this  Indenture,  and thereafter  "Trustee"  shall mean or include
each  Person who is then a Trustee  hereunder,  and if at any time there is more
than one such Person,  "Trustee" as used with respect to the  Securities  of any
series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Securities of that series.

               "United   States"  means  the  United  States  of  America,   its
Territories,   its   possessions  and  other  areas  subject  to  its  political
jurisdiction.

SECTION 102.  Compliance Certificates and Opinions.

               Except as otherwise  expressly  provided in this Indenture,  upon
any  application  or  request by the  Company to the  Trustee to take any action
under any provision of this  Indenture,  the Company shall,  if requested by the
Trustee,  furnish  to the  Trustee an  Officer's  Certificate  stating  that all
conditions  precedent,  if any,  provided for in this Indenture  relating to the
proposed action  (including any covenants  compliance  with which  constitutes a
condition  precedent)  have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating
that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent,  if any, have
been complied with,  except that in the case of any such  application or request
as to which the  furnishing of such  documents is  specifically  required by any
provision of this Indenture relating to such particular  application or request,
no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.

               Every  certificate  or opinion with respect to compliance  with a
condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include:

               (a) a statement  that each Person  signing  such  certificate  or
         opinion has read such covenant or condition and the definitions  herein
         relating thereto;

               (b)  a  brief  statement  as to  the  nature  and  scope  of  the
         examination  or  investigation  upon which the  statements  or opinions
         contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

               (c) a statement  that,  in the opinion of each such Person,  such
         Person has made such  examination or  investigation  as is necessary to
         enable such Person to


<PAGE>
                                     -7-

         express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or 
         condition has been complied with; and

               (d) a  statement  as to  whether,  in the  opinion  of each  such
         Person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

SECTION 103.  Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.

               In any case where  several  matters are  required to be certified
by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified  Person, it is not necessary that
all such  matters be  certified  by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such
Person,  or that they be so certified or covered by only one  document,  but one
such Person may certify or give an opinion  with respect to some matters and one
or more other such Persons as to other matters,  and any such Person may certify
or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.

               Any  certificate  or opinion of an officer of the  Company may be
based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of,
or representations by, counsel, unless such officer knows, or in the exercise of
reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or  representations
with respect to the matters upon which such Officer's Certificate or opinion are
based are  erroneous.  Any such  certificate or Opinion of Counsel may be based,
insofar as it relates to factual  matters,  upon a certificate or opinion of, or
representations  by, an officer or  officers  of the  Company  stating  that the
information  with respect to such factual  matters is in the  possession  of the
Company, unless such counsel knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should
know,  that the certificate or opinion or  representations  with respect to such
matters are erroneous.

               Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more
applications,  requests, consents,  certificates,  statements, opinions or other
instruments  under this Indenture,  they may, but need not, be consolidated  and
form one instrument.

               Whenever,  subsequent  to the receipt by the Trustee of any Board
Resolution,  Officer's  Certificate,  Opinion of Counsel  or other  document  or
instrument,  a clerical,  typographical  or other  inadvertent or  unintentional
error or omission shall be discovered  therein, a new document or instrument may
be  substituted  therefor in corrected form with the same force and effect as if
originally filed in the corrected form and, irrespective of the date or dates of
the actual  execution  and/or  delivery  thereof,  such  substitute  document or
instrument shall be deemed to have been executed and/or delivered as of the date
or dates  required  with respect to the document or  instrument  for which it is
substituted. Anything in this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding,  if any
such corrective  document or instrument  indicates that action has been taken by
or at the  request  of the  Company  which  could  not have  been  taken had the
original document or instrument not contained such error or omission, the action
so taken shall not be invalidated or otherwise rendered ineffective but shall be
and remain in full force and effect, except to the extent that such action was a
result of willful  misconduct or bad faith.  Without  limiting the generality of
the  foregoing,  any  Securities  issued under the  authority of such  defective
document  or  instrument  shall  nevertheless  be the valid  obligations  of the

<PAGE>
                                     -8-

Company entitled to the benefits of this Indenture  equally and ratably with all
other Outstanding Securities, except as aforesaid.

SECTION 104.  Acts of Holders.

               (a)  Any  request,  demand,  authorization,   direction,  notice,
         consent, election, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to
         be made,  given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by
         one or more instruments of  substantially  similar tenor signed by such
         Holders  in  person  or by an  agent  duly  appointed  in  writing  or,
         alternatively,  may be  embodied  in and  evidenced  by the  record  of
         Holders  voting in favor  thereof,  either in person or by proxies duly
         appointed in writing, at any meeting of Holders duly called and held in
         accordance with the provisions of Article Thirteen, or a combination of
         such  instruments  and any such  record.  Except  as  herein  otherwise
         expressly  provided,  such  action  shall  become  effective  when such
         instrument  or  instruments  or  record  or both are  delivered  to the
         Trustee and,  where it is hereby  expressly  required,  to the Company.
         Such  instrument  or  instruments  and any such  record (and the action
         embodied therein and evidenced  thereby) are herein sometimes  referred
         to as the "Act" of the Holders  signing such  instrument or instruments
         and so  voting  at any such  meeting.  Proof of  execution  of any such
         instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent, or of the holding
         by any Person of a  Security,  shall be  sufficient  for any purpose of
         this Indenture and (subject to Section 901)  conclusive in favor of the
         Trustee  and  the  Company,  if  made in the  manner  provided  in this
         Section.  The record of any  meeting of Holders  shall be proved in the
         manner provided in Section 1306.

               (b) The fact and date of the  execution by any Person of any such
         instrument  or writing may be proved by the  affidavit  of a witness of
         such  execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer
         authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the
         individual  signing such instrument or writing  acknowledged to him the
         execution  thereof  or may be  proved  in any  other  manner  which the
         Trustee and the Company deem  sufficient.  Where such execution is by a
         signer acting in a capacity  other than his individual  capacity,  such
         certificate or affidavit shall also constitute  sufficient proof of his
         authority.

               (c) The principal amount and serial numbers of Securities held by
         any Person,  and the date of holding  the same,  shall be proved by the
         Security Register.

               (d)  Any  request,  demand,  authorization,   direction,  notice,
         consent,  election,  waiver or other Act of a Holder  shall  bind every
         future  Holder of the same  Security  and the Holder of every  Security
         issued  upon  the  registration  of  transfer  thereof  or in  exchange
         therefor  or in lieu  thereof in respect of anything  done,  omitted or
         suffered to be done by the Trustee or the Company in reliance  thereon,
         whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Security.

               (e)  Until  such  time as  written  instruments  shall  have been
         delivered to the Trustee with respect to the  requisite  percentage  of
         principal  amount of  Securities  

<PAGE>
                                     -9-

         for the action  contemplated by such  instruments,  any such instrument
         executed and  delivered by or on behalf of a Holder may be revoked with
         respect  to any or all of such  Securities  by  written  notice by such
         Holder or any  subsequent  Holder,  proven in the  manner in which such
         instrument was proven.

               (f) Securities of any series  authenticated  and delivered  after
         any Act of Holders may,  and shall if required by the  Trustee,  bear a
         notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any action taken by such
         Act of Holders.  If the Company shall so determine,  new  Securities of
         any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and
         the Company, to such action may be prepared and executed by the Company
         and  authenticated  and  delivered  by  the  Trustee  in  exchange  for
         Outstanding Securities of such series.

               (g) If the  Company  shall  solicit  from  Holders  any  request,
         demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act,
         the Company  may,  at its option,  fix in advance a record date for the
         determination  of  Holders  entitled  to  give  such  request,  demand,
         authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, but the
         Company  shall have no  obligation  to do so. If such a record  date is
         fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent,
         waiver or other Act may be given before or after such record date,  but
         only the  Holders of record at the close of business on the record date
         shall be deemed to be Holders for the purposes of  determining  whether
         Holders of the requisite proportion of the Outstanding  Securities have
         authorized   or  agreed  or   consented   to  such   request,   demand,
         authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, and for
         that  purpose the  Outstanding  Securities  shall be computed as of the
         record date.

SECTION 105.  Notices, etc. to Trustee and Company.

               Any request, demand,  authorization,  direction, notice, consent,
election,  waiver or Act of Holders or other  document  provided or permitted by
this  Indenture  to be made upon,  given or  furnished  to, or filed  with,  the
Trustee by any Holder or by the Company, or the Company by the Trustee or by any
Holder, shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein
expressly  provided)  if in writing and  delivered  personally  to an officer or
other  responsible  employee  of the  addressee,  or  transmitted  by  facsimile
transmission or other direct written  electronic  means to such telephone number
or other electronic communications address as the parties hereto shall from time
to time  designate,  or  transmitted  by certified or registered  mail,  charges
prepaid,  to the  applicable

<PAGE>
                                     -10-

address set opposite  such party's name below or to such other address as either
party hereto may from time to time designate:

                       If to the Trustee, to:

                       The Bank of New York
                       101 Barclay Street, 21 West
                       New York, New York  10286

                       Attention: Vice President, Corporate Trust Administration
                       Telephone: (212) 815-5291
                       Telecopy: (212) 815-5915

                       If to the Company, to:

                       ADESA Corporation
                       1919 S. Post Road
                       Indianapolis, Indiana 46239

                       Attention: Chief Financial Officer
                       Telephone: (317)862-7220
                       Telecopy:  (317)862-7307


               Any  communication  contemplated  herein  shall be deemed to have
been made, given,  furnished and filed if personally  delivered,  on the date of
delivery,  if  transmitted  by facsimile  transmission  or other direct  written
electronic means, on the date of transmission,  and if transmitted by registered
mail, on the date of receipt.

SECTION 106.  Notice to Holders of Securities; Waiver.

               Except  as  otherwise  expressly  provided  herein,   where  this
Indenture  provides  for notice to Holders of any event,  such  notice  shall be
sufficiently  given,  and shall be deemed  given,  to Holders if in writing  and
mailed,  first-class  postage prepaid, to each Holder affected by such event, at
the address of such  Holder as it appears in the  Security  Register,  not later
than the latest date,  if any, and not earlier than the earliest  date,  if any,
prescribed for the giving of such notice.

               In case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by
reason  of any other  cause it shall be  impracticable  to give  such  notice to
Holders by mail,  then such  notification  as shall be made with the approval of
the  Trustee  shall  constitute  a  sufficient  notification  for every  purpose
hereunder.  In any case where  notice to Holders is given by mail,  neither  the
failure to mail such  notice,  nor any  defect in any  notice so mailed,  to any
particular  Holder shall affect the  sufficiency  of such notice with respect to
other Holders.

               Any notice required by this Indenture may be waived in writing by
the Person  entitled to receive  such notice,  either  before or after the event
otherwise to be specified  therein,  and such waiver shall be the  equivalent of
such notice.  Waivers of 

<PAGE>
                                     -11-

notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee,  but such filing shall not be
a condition  precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such
waiver.

SECTION 107.  Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.

               If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts
with another provision hereof which is required or deemed to be included in this
Indenture  by, or is otherwise  governed by, any of the  provisions of the Trust
Indenture Act, such other provision shall control;  and if any provision  hereof
otherwise  conflicts with the Trust Indenture Act, the Trust Indenture Act shall
control, if applicable to this Indenture.

SECTION 108.  Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.

               The Article and Section  headings in this Indenture and the Table
of  Contents  are for  convenience  only and shall not affect  the  construction
hereof.

SECTION 109.  Successors and Assigns.

               All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the Company and
Trustee shall bind their respective successors and assigns, whether so expressed
or not.

SECTION 110.  Separability Clause.

               In case any provision in this Indenture or the  Securities  shall
be invalid, illegal or unenforceable,  the validity, legality and enforceability
of the  remaining  provisions  shall  not in any  way be  affected  or  impaired
thereby.

SECTION 111.  Benefits of Indenture.

               Nothing in this Indenture or the Securities,  express or implied,
shall  give to any  Person,  other than the  parties  hereto,  their  successors
hereunder,  and the Holders, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy
or claim under this Indenture.

SECTION 112.  Governing Law.

               This  Indenture  and the  Securities  shall  be  governed  by and
construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York,  except
to the  extent  that the law of any  other  jurisdiction  shall  be  mandatorily
applicable.

SECTION 113.  Legal Holidays.

               In any case where any Interest  Payment Date,  Redemption Date or
Stated  Maturity  of any  Security  shall not be a Business  Day at any Place of
Payment,  then  (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the
Securities  other than a provision in Securities of any series,  or in the Board
Resolution  or  Officer's   Certificate  which  establishes  the  terms  of  the
Securities of such series,  which specifically  states that such provision shall
apply in lieu of this Section) payment of interest or principal and premium,  if
any, need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date,  but may be 

<PAGE>
                                     -12-

made on the next succeeding  Business Day at such Place of Payment, in each case
with the same  force  and  effect,  and in the  same  amount,  as if made on the
Interest Payment Date or Redemption Date, or at the Stated Maturity, as the case
may be, and, if such payment is made or duly  provided for on such Business Day,
no interest  shall accrue on the amount so payable for the period from and after
such Interest Payment Date,  Redemption Date or Stated Maturity, as the case may
be, to such Business Day.


                                   ARTICLE TWO

                                 Security Forms

SECTION 201.  Forms Generally.

               The   definitive   Securities   of  each   series   shall  be  in
substantially   the  form  or  forms  thereof   established   in  the  indenture
supplemental   hereto   establishing  such  series  or  in  a  Board  Resolution
establishing  such  series,  or in an  Officer's  Certificate  pursuant  to such
supplemental  indenture or Board Resolution,  in each case with such appropriate
insertions,  omissions,  substitutions  and other  variations as are required or
permitted by this Indenture,  and may have such letters,  numbers or other marks
of  identification  and such legends or  endorsements  placed  thereon as may be
required  to  comply  with  the  rules  of any  securities  exchange  or as may,
consistently  herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Securities,
as  evidenced  by their  execution  of the  Securities.  If the form or forms of
Securities  of  any  series  are  established  in a  Board  Resolution  or in an
Officer's Certificate pursuant to a Board Resolution,  such Board Resolution and
Officer's Certificate,  if any, shall be delivered to the Trustee at or prior to
the  delivery  of  the  Company  Order  contemplated  by  Section  303  for  the
authentication and delivery of such Securities.

               Unless  otherwise  specified as  contemplated by Section 301, the
Securities of each series shall be issuable in registered form without  coupons.
The  definiti