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 Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the  fiscal  year ended
December  31,  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

                                      President and Chief Executive Officer
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                      Title

                                      March 27, 2003
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                      Date


A signed  original of this  written  statement  required by Section 906 has been
provided to Registrant  and will be retained by Registrant  and furnished to the
Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.