<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0508</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2025-12-15</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>true</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000066756</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ALLETE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ALE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001186165</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NICK BARBARA A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>30 WEST SUPERIOR STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DULUTH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>55802</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>true</isDirector>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <aff10b5One>false</aff10b5One>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2025-12-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>13631.26</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>67</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes shares acquired in exempt transactions under the dividend reinvestment feature of the direct stock purchase and dividend reinvestment plan of ALLETE, Inc., a Minnesota corporation (the &quot;Company&quot;), based on plan information available as of immediately prior to the Effective Time (as defined below).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Pursuant to the terms of that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger (the &quot;Merger Agreement&quot;), dated as of May 5, 2024, by and among the Company, Alloy Parent LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (&quot;Parent&quot;), and Alloy Merger Sub LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (&quot;Merger Sub&quot;), at the effective time on December 15, 2025 (the &quot;Effective Time&quot;), Merger Sub merged with and into the Company, with the Company surviving such merger (the &quot;Merger&quot;) as a subsidiary of Parent.  In connection with the Merger, each share of Company common stock, no par value (&quot;Common Stock&quot;), was automatically converted into the right to receive $67.00 in cash per share without interest (the &quot;Merger Consideration&quot;). The disposition of the securities by the Reporting Person in the Merger was approved by the Company's board of directors in the manner contemplated by Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Julie L. Padilla for Barbara A. Nick</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2025-12-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
