<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM OGLETHORPE
POWER CORPORATION'S CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET AS OF MARCH 31, 1998 AND RELATED
STATEMENTS OF REVENUES AND EXPENSES AND CASH FLOWS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED MARCH 
31, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S.
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK<F1>
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    3,568,839
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    219,745
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         339,877
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       350,976
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,479,437
<COMMON>                                             0
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            338,364
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         3,225,356
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   85,487
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                    287,078
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 6,709
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 536,443
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                4,479,437
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      235,267
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                 0
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     172,486
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     172,486
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         62,781
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              10,785
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  73,566
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        65,940
<NET-INCOME>                                     7,626
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                        0
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                             0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       39,144
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          39,317
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<FN>
<F1>$338,364 represents total retained patronage capital. The registrant is a
membership corporation and has no authorized or outstanding equity securities.
</FN>