<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM OGLETHORPE
POWER CORPORATION'S CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 AND RELATED
STATEMENTS  OF REVENUES AND EXPENSES AND CASH FLOWS FOR THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDED
SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH 
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S.
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK<F1>
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    3,624,291
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    200,881
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         366,949
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       335,159
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,527,280
<COMMON>                                             0
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            321,771
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         3,171,511
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  92,220
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   81,999
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                    289,825
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 5,848
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 564,106
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                4,527,280
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,069,813
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                 0
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     812,162
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     812,162
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        257,651
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              49,338
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 306,989
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       297,389
<NET-INCOME>                                     9,600
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                        0
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                             0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       44,759
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         285,969
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<FN>
<F1>$321,771 REPRESENTS TOTAL RETAINED PATRONAGE CAPITAL. THE REGISTRANT IS A
MEMBERSHIP CORPORATION AND HAS NO AUTHORIZED OR OUTSTANDING EQUITY SECURITIES.
</FN>