<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM OGLETHOLPE
POWER CORPORATION'S CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET AS OF MARCH 31, 1997 AND RELATED 
STATEMENTS OF REVENUES AND EXPENSES AND CASH FLOWS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED MARCH 
31, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL 
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK<F1>
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    3,679,055
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    196,381
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         346,638
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       328,442
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,550,516
<COMMON>                                             0
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            315,855
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         3,314,890
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   84,200
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                    292,397
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 4,674
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 538,500
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                4,550,516
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      271,485
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                 0
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     193,667
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     193,667
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         77,818
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              11,823
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  89,641
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        80,205
<NET-INCOME>                                     9,436
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                        0
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                             0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       42,949
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         100,698
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<FN>
<F1>$315,855 represents total retained patronage capital. The registrant
is a membership corporation and has no authorized or outstanding equity
securities.
</FN>