Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350
      As Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002



     In connection  with the Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended
September  30,  2002  (the  "Report")  of  Oglethorpe  Power   Corporation  (the
"Registrant"),  as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date
hereof,  I, Thomas A. Smith,  the President and Chief  Executive  Officer of the
Registrant certify, to the best of my knowledge, that:

     (1)  The Report fully  complies with the  requirements  of Section 13(a) or
          15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

     (2)  The  information  contained  in the  Report  fairly  presents,  in all
          material respects,  the financial  condition and results of operations
          of the Registrant.




                                           /s/ Thomas A. Smith
                                           -------------------
                                           Name

                                           November 14,  2002
                                           ------------------
                                           Date