<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM OGLETHORPE
POWER CORPORATION'S CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 AND RELATED
STATEMENTS OF REVENUES AND EXPENSES AND CASH FLOWS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED
SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK<F1>
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    4,401,321
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    146,334
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         400,906
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       358,760
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               5,307,321
<COMMON>                                             0
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            361,273
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         4,122,458
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  105,088
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                    294,381
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 4,457
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 419,664
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                5,307,321
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      832,565
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                 0
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     611,474
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     611,474
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        221,091
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              49,500
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 270,591
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       244,363
<NET-INCOME>                                    26,228
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                        0
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                             0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       53,595
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          52,919
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<FN>
<F1>$361,273 REPRESENTS TOTAL RETAINED PATRONAGE CAPITAL.  THE REGISTRANT IS A
MEMBERSHIP CORPORATION AND HAS NO AUTHORIZED OR OUTSTANDING EQUITY SECURITIES.
</FN>