Exhibit 99.1

                    Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350
      As Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002



     In connection  with the Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended
June 30, 2002 (the "Report") of Oglethorpe Power Corporation (the "Registrant"),
as filed with the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission  on the date hereof,  I,
Thomas A. Smith,  the President and Chief  Executive  Officer of the  Registrant
certify, to the best of my knowledge, that:

         (1)   The Report fully complies with the  requirements of Section 13(a)
               or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

         (2)   The information  contained in the Report fairly presents,  in all
               material  respects,   the  financial  condition  and  results  of
               operations of the Registrant.




                                                     /s/  Thomas A. Smith
                                                     --------------------
                                                     Name

                                                     Principal Executive Officer
                                                     ---------------------------
                                                     Title

                                                     August 13, 2002
                                                     ---------------
                                                     Date