CONTACT INFORMATION

Optiron
www.optiron.com

PITTSBURGH, PA., August 1, 2001 - Optiron Corporation announced a new software licensing option (Readi ESCO Advantage) that makes its Readi System customer care and billing solution affordable to growing energy companies. A key feature of the new licensing model is that Optiron clients pay only for what they use, and they can add new functionality at anytime with no additional license fees. Under this pricing model, ESCOs using the Readi System pay a low monthly charge per customer that is based on those products and services (utility service and/or non-utility products and services) that the customer buys from the ESCO. With the Readi ESCO Advantage, energy suppliers will gain significant first-to-market advantages in newly deregulated utility jurisdictions, and be able to maximize the value of their customer relationships at minimal costs.

"Many energy service companies would love to get more value out of their customer relationships, but are prevented from doing so since much of the value is achieved by taking control of those relationships from the incumbent utility", says Tony Banks, chairman of the board of Optiron Corporation. Mr. Banks further states, "But in order to take control of those customer relationships, energy service companies need strong back office capability, mostly relating to billing and customer care. In response to that need, we have created the Readi ESCO Advantage pricing model that makes the costs of implementing that strong back office capability both predictable and affordable. We've bounced this idea off several of our prospects and for the most part they feel this is something that is long overdue."

Angelo Pasquale, president and CEO of Optiron adds, "With the Readi System, Energy companies will gain a lot of capability for achieving increased profitability such as: prospect tracking and outreach marketing, receivables and account management when the utility is billing on behalf of the energy service company, one bill from the ESCO to include all utility charges, the ability to grow relationships with existing customers by quickly adding a second utility service or non-utility product or service, and finally giving the customer choices of how and when they will be billed including self-help customer care via the Web."

The Readi ESCO Advantage pricing model also offers an attractive alternative to clients who like the pricing advantages of an ASP or outsource service, but who want to retain greater control over their computing environment for mission critical applications like the Readi System. Mr.Pasquale adds, "We are essentially making an investment in our ESCO clients with the Readi ESCO Advantage pricing model. We forgo our normal license fees which involve larger, up-front costs, in exchange for participation in the success of the ESCO with monthly fees that grow with growth in the ESCO revenues and profits…a win-win for both parties."

Optiron Corporation (www.optiron.com) provides web-based billing and customer care solutions and services to utilities, energy service companies, municipal authorities and cooperatives. Optiron's founders have more than 27 years direct energy industry business experience, including early participation in retail choice, and over 15 years energy industry and other commercial application development experience. Optiron is partly owned by Philadelphia, PA-based Resource America, Inc. (Nasdaq: REXI). Resource America, Inc. operates businesses in energy, and real estate finance.

For more information about Optiron Corporation and the Readi ESCO Advantage, send an e-mail to info@optiron.com or visit www.optiron.com.

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