<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM OGLETHORPE
POWER CORPORATION'S CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET AS OF JUNE 30, 1997 AND RELATED
STATEMENTS OF REVENUES AND EXPENSES AND CASH FLOWS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30,
1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S.
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK<F1>
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    3,654,576
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    201,944
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         353,359
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       334,156
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,544,035
<COMMON>                                             0
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            321,855
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         3,279,702
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  10,003
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   82,460
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                    291,111
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 5,261
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 553,643
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                4,544,035
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      514,361
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                 0
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     375,121
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     375,121
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        139,240
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              22,970
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 162,210
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       147,263
<NET-INCOME>                                    14,947
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                        0
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                             0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       41,484
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         122,244
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<FN>
<F1>$321,855 REPRESENTS TOTAL RETAINED PATRONAGE CAPITAL. THE REGISTRANT IS A
MEMBERSHIP CORPORATION AND HAS NO AUTHORIZED OR OUTSTANDING EQUITY SECURITIES.
</FN>