OGLETHORPE POWER PRESIDENT AND CEO NAMED TO MOST INFLUENTIAL GEORGIANS LIST

ATLANTA, GA (January 24, 2007) – Thomas A. (Tom) Smith, the President and CEO of Atlanta-based Oglethorpe Power Corporation, has been named by Georgia Trend magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential Georgians for 2007. The list, published in the magazine’s just-released January 2007 issue, includes 100 major political figures, business leaders, athletes and others who have made a significant impact in Georgia over the past year.

In naming Smith to the list, the magazine noted that he strengthened Oglethorpe Power through “operational reviews and maintenance improvements to ensure reliable generation and excellent performance at a number of power-generating facilities….”

Smith said he was “quite surprised” to be named to the Georgia Trend list. “It’s great to be recognized for your work,” he said, “but the real credit for what we’ve accomplished at Oglethorpe Power should go to all of our employees as well as the 38 Electric Membership Corporations (EMCs) that we serve throughout Georgia.”

Smith has served as President and CEO of Oglethorpe Power Corporation since September 1999. Before that, he was Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and Senior Financial Officer. He previously served as Vice President, Finance, of Oglethorpe Power from 1986 to 1990; Manager of Finance from 1983 to 1986; and Manager, Financial Services from 1979 to 1983.

From 1990 to 1997, Smith was Senior Vice President of the Rural Utility Banking Group of CoBank, where he managed the bank's eastern division, rural utilities. He is a Certified Public Accountant, has a Master of Science degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology, a Master of Science degree from Purdue University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Catawba College.

Smith is a 2003 recipient of the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor. He lives in the Atlanta area with his wife, Kathy, and their son, Kevin.

Oglethorpe Power Corporation is a $4.8 billion power supply cooperative serving 38 consumer-owned EMCs in Georgia. These EMCs provide retail electric service to more than 3.7 million Georgians. Oglethorpe Power is the nation’s largest electric cooperative in assets, annual kilowatt-hour sales, and ultimate consumers served.

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