OPERATIONS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Inventories. Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Amounts removed from inventory are recorded on an average cost basis.



Inventories	September 30, 2012		December 31, 2011
Millions
Fuel		$31.3		$28.6
Materials and Supplies	45.4		40.5
Total Inventories		$76.7		$69.1



Prepayments and Other Current Assets	September 30, 2012		December 31, 2011
Millions
Deferred Fuel Adjustment Clause		$18.2		$17.5
Other	5.6		9.6
Total Prepayments and Other Current Assets		$23.8		$27.1



Other Current Liabilities	September 30, 2012		December 31, 2011
Millions
Customer Deposits		$28.8		$16.3
Other	24.3		29.3
Total Other Current Liabilities		$53.1		$45.6



Other Non-Current Liabilities	September 30, 2012		December 31, 2011
Millions
Asset Retirement Obligation		$61.7		$57.0
Other	47.7		48.1
Total Other Non-Current Liabilities		$109.4		$105.1

Supplemental Statement of Cash Flows Information.



For the Nine Months Ended September 30,	2012		2011
Millions
Cash Paid During the Period for Interest – Net of Amounts Capitalized		$32.3		$32.4
Cash Paid (Received) During the Period for Income Taxes		$0.2	$(11.1)
Noncash Investing and Financing Activities
Decrease in Accounts Payable for Capital Additions to Property, Plant and Equipment	$(13.1)		$(14.8)
AFUDC – Equity		$3.4		$1.7

NOTE 1. OPERATIONS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

Accounts Receivable. Accounts receivable are reported on the Consolidated Balance Sheet net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. The allowance is based on our evaluation of the receivable portfolio under current conditions, overall portfolio quality, review of specific problems and such other factors that, in our judgment, deserve recognition in estimating losses. In the third quarter of 2011, one of Minnesota Power’s Large Power Customers, NewPage Corporation (NewPage), filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Minnesota Power had a pre-bankruptcy petition receivable of $3.2 million as of September 30, 2012. In September 2012, NewPage submitted a motion to the bankruptcy court to approve amended and restated service agreements and payment of the pre-petition amount, which was approved on October 16, 2012. The agreement is now pending approval by the MPUC, at which time the pre-petition amount will be paid.

Based on our assessment of the facts and circumstances existing as of September 30, 2012, we have determined that it is not probable that the pre-petition receivable has been impaired. This customer’s operations have continued without interruption and we continue to provide electric and steam service to this customer. We have received payment of scheduled post-petition receivable balances and we expect continued payment of all other post-petition receivables.

Subsequent Events. The Company performed an evaluation of subsequent events for potential recognition and disclosure through the time of the financial statements issuance.

New Accounting Standards.

Fair Value. In May 2011, the FASB issued an accounting standards update on fair value measurement. This update requires disclosure of a sensitivity analysis for fair value measurements within Level 3 and the valuation process used. No retrospective application of this guidance is required. If we utilize Level 3 fair value measurements in the future, this guidance would significantly increase our disclosures in this area. This guidance was effective beginning with the quarter ended March 31, 2012, and did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Statement of Comprehensive Income. In June 2011, the FASB issued an accounting standards update on the presentation of comprehensive income. This guidance was effective beginning with the quarter ended March 31, 2012, and modified our presentation of other comprehensive income, moving it from the footnotes to the face of the financial statements in a separate Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income immediately following the Consolidated Statement of Income. The components of net income and other comprehensive income are unchanged and earnings per share continues to be based on net income.