December 2012 Demand Nominations


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549





FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported) - December 3, 2012

ALLETE, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Minnesota
1-3548
41-0418150
(State or other jurisdiction of
(Commission File Number)
(IRS Employer
incorporation or organization)
 
Identification No.)

30 West Superior Street
Duluth, Minnesota 55802-2093
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

(218) 279-5000
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)





Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

o
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))









SECTION 8 - OTHER EVENTS

Item 8.01
Other Events

Minnesota Power’s Large Power taconite customers, subject to demand nomination requirements, nominate minimum demand levels for their energy needs each December, March, and August for the following four-month periods. Based on nominations received on December 1, 2012, Minnesota Power’s Large Power taconite customers are expected to operate at full demand levels for January through April, 2013.



 
 
 

Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements should be read in conjunction with ALLETE’s disclosures under the heading: “Forward-Looking Statements” located on page 2 of this Form 8-K.





1
ALLETE Form 8-K dated December 3, 2012


Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this report that are not statements of historical facts are considered “forward-looking” and, accordingly, involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed. Although such forward-looking statements have been made in good faith and are based on reasonable assumptions, there is no assurance that the expected results will be achieved. Any statements that express, or involve discussions as to, future expectations, risks, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, events, uncertainties, financial performance, or growth strategies (often, but not always, through the use of words or phrases such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “projects,” “likely,” “will continue,” “could,” “may,” “potential,” “target,” “outlook” or words of similar meaning) are not statements of historical facts and may be forward-looking.

In connection with the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, we are providing this cautionary statement to identify important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated in forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of ALLETE in this Current Report on Form 8-K, in presentations, on our website, in response to questions or otherwise. These statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to, and are accompanied by, the following important factors, in addition to any assumptions and other factors referred to specifically in connection with such forward-looking statements that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements:

•
our ability to successfully implement our strategic objectives;
•
regulatory or legislative actions, including changes in governmental policies of the United States Congress, state legislatures, the FERC, the MPUC, the PSCW, the NDPSC, the EPA and various state, local and county regulators, and city administrators, about allowed rates of return, capital structure, financings, industry and rate structure, acquisition and disposal of assets and facilities, real estate development, operation and construction of plant facilities, recovery of purchased power, capital investments and other expenses, present or prospective wholesale and retail competition (including but not limited to transmission costs), zoning and permitting of land held for resale and environmental matters;
•
our ability to manage expansion and integrate acquisitions;
•
our industrial customers’ ability to execute potential expansion plans;
•
the potential impacts of climate change and future regulation to restrict the emissions of GHG on our Regulated Operations;
•
effects of restructuring initiatives in the electric industry;
•
economic and geographic factors, including political and economic risks;
•
changes in and compliance with laws and regulations;
•
weather conditions, natural disasters and pandemic diseases;
•
war, acts of terrorism and cyber attacks;
•
wholesale power market conditions;
•
population growth rates and demographic patterns;
•
effects of competition, including competition for retail and wholesale customers;
•
changes in the real estate market;
•
pricing and transportation of commodities;
•
changes in tax rates or policies or in rates of inflation;
•
project delays or changes in project costs;
•
availability and management of construction materials and skilled construction labor for capital projects;
•
changes in operating expenses and capital expenditures;
•
global and domestic economic conditions affecting us or our customers;
•
our ability to access capital markets and bank financing;
•
changes in interest rates and the performance of the financial markets;
•
our ability to replace a mature workforce and retain qualified, skilled and experienced personnel; and
•
the outcome of legal and administrative proceedings (whether civil or criminal) and settlements.

Additional disclosures regarding factors that could cause our results and performance to differ from results or performance anticipated by this report are discussed in Item 1A under the heading “Risk Factors” beginning on page 26 of our 2011 Form 10‑K. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which that 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 these factors, nor can it assess the impact of each of these factors on the businesses of ALLETE or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Readers are urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures made by us in this Current Report on Form 8-K and in our other reports filed with the SEC that attempt to advise interested parties of the factors that may affect our business.

2
ALLETE Form 8-K dated December 3, 2012



SIGNATURES


Pursuant to the requirements 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.


ALLETE, Inc.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 3, 2012
 
/s/ Steven Q. DeVinck
 
 
Steven Q. DeVinck
 
 
Controller and Vice President - Business Support





3
ALLETE Form 8-K dated December 3, 2012