TAMPA, Fla. & DULUTH, Minn., Aug. 5, 2002 -- Energy Softworx and Minnesota Power announced that they have entered into a software license agreement to utilize Energy Softworx' fuels management software (Fuelworx) to manage their fuel supply operations.

"We are delighted that Minnesota Power has selected our software solution," said Debra Wohlers, president of Energy Softworx. "Minnesota Power joins Energy Softworx's family of power producers who are utilizing our software to manage their fuel procurement, shipment scheduling, quality analysis, inventory, payment processing and cost accounting activities on a real time basis."

"Minnesota Power made an intensive examination of software solutions for cost-effectively managing its fuel system," said Lori Frisk, manager of applications at Minnesota Power. "Energy Softworx Fuelworx beat all alternatives hands down. Fuel is the largest direct cost component in generating electricity, and we anticipate that this software will improve our ability to effectively manage our fuel supply costs."

About Energy Softworx

Energy Softworx provides software solutions for organizations involved in the consumption, sales, and transportation of fuel (i.e., coal, oil, pet coke, natural gas). The company, established in 1992, has licensed products to over 25 leading energy providers including Progress Energy (NYSE:PGN - News), Xcel Energy (NYSE:XEL - News), FirstEnergy (NYSE:FE - News), Reliant Energy (NYSE:RRI - News) and Exelon Corporation (NYSE:EXC - News).

About Minnesota Power

Minnesota Power, an ALLETE Company (NYSE:ALE - News) is engaged in the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity in Minnesota and Wisconsin and serves some of the largest industrial customers in the United States. The company also owns BNI Coal, a North Dakota lignite mine, and Enventis Telecom, which designs, deploys, and manages innovative telecommunications network solutions and has rights to approximately 1,500 route miles of fiber optic cable in Minnesota and Wisconsin.