EXHIBIT 32.1

                            CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
                  SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
        (SUBSECTIONS (a) AND (b) OF SECTION 1350, CHAPTER 63 OF TITLE 18,
                               UNITED STATES CODE)

      Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Subsections (a)
and (b) of Section 1350, Chapter 63 of Title 18, United States Code) (the Act),
I, Robert W. Harvey, President of Orion Power Holdings, Inc. (the Company),
hereby certify, to the best of my knowledge:

      (a)   the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period
            ended March 31, 2004 (the Report), fully complies with the
            requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d), as applicable, of the
            Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

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

Date: May 7, 2004                            /s/ Robert W. Harvey
                                             --------------------
                                               Robert W. Harvey
                                                   President