<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM OGLETHORPE
POWER CORPORATION'S CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1998 AND RELATED
STATEMENT OF REVENUES AND EXPENSES AND CASH FLOWS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER
30, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK<F1>
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    3,504,848
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    216,015
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         398,150
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       366,097
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,485,110
<COMMON>                                             0
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            342,775
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         3,183,280
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                   3,982
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   89,225
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                    283,958
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 7,258
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 574,632
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                4,485,110
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      897,768
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                 0
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     721,118
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     721,118
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        176,650
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              32,000
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 208,650
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       199,345
<NET-INCOME>                                     9,305
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                        0
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                             0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       37,448
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         139,625
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<FN>
<F1>$342,775 REPRESENTS TOTAL RETAINED PATRONAGE CAPITAL.  THE REGISTRANT IS A
MEMBERSHIP CORPORATION AND HAS NO AUTHORIZED OR OUTSTANDING EQUITY SECURITIES.
</FN>