<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM OGLETHORPE
POWER CORPORATION'S BALANCE SHEET AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND RELATED STATEMENTS
OF REVENUES AND EXPENSES AND CASH FLOWS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998
AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK<F1>
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    3,450,652
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    230,315
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         433,839
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       391,459
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,506,265
<COMMON>                                             0
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            352,701
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         3,177,883
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  50,986
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   89,989
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                    282,299
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 7,486
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 544,921
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                4,506,265
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,144,167
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                 0
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     901,513
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     901,513
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        242,654
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              42,293
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 284,947
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       263,867
<NET-INCOME>                                    21,080
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                        0
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                             0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       37,550
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         171,926
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<FN>
<F1>$352,701 represents total retained patronage capital.  The registrant is a
membership coporation and has no authorized or outstanding equity securities.
</FN>