Madison Gas and Electric Company Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Items not affecting cash:
Depreciation and amortization	$ 44,225	$ 40,695	$ 38,838
Deferred income taxes	21,927	49,884	38,365
Provision for doubtful receivables	596	1,898	2,448
Employee benefit plan expenses	3,333	(1,080)	13,303
Equity earnings in ATC	(7,728)	(9,150)	(9,434)
Other items	721	729	117
Changes in working capital items:
Trade and other receivables (change)	4,508	2,115	(3,827)
Inventories (change)	(2,646)	(10,399)	2,488
Unbilled revenues (change)	6,254	720	(3,720)
Prepaid taxes (change)	3,658	(19,804)	414
Other current assets (change)	978	(5,693)	2,514
Accounts payable (change)	(3,499)	2,756	858
Other current liabilities (change)	(597)	(4,195)	6,271
Dividend income from ATC	6,645	7,740	7,404
Cash contributions to pension and other postretirement plans	(13,676)	(3,321)	(34,765)
Debt make-whole premium	0	0	(6,757)
Other noncurrent items, net	5,143	(4,452)	10,845
Cash Provided by (Used for) Operating Activities	141,185	128,762	140,267
Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures	(72,030)	(92,676)	(119,047)
Capital contributions to investments	(1,053)	(2,185)	(1,660)
Other investing	(230)	(1,297)	(1,205)
Cash Provided by (Used for) Investing Activities	(73,313)	(96,158)	(121,922)
Financing Activities:
Repayment of long-term debt	(4,182)	(4,103)	(43,012)
Issuance of long-term debt	0	0	85,000
(Decrease) increase in short-term debt	(7,000)	7,000	0
Other financing	(1,018)	(130)	(770)
Cash Provided by (Used for) Financing Activities	(52,243)	(35,662)	4,111
Change in cash and cash equivalents:	15,629	(3,058)	22,456
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	65,755	68,813	46,357
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	81,384	65,755	68,813
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Interest paid	19,636	20,478	17,991
Income taxes paid	23,800	19,579	8,046
Income taxes received	(10,130)	(644)	(1,339)
Significant noncash investing activities:
Accrued capital expenditures	3,963	1,569	9,892
MGE [Member]
Operating Activities:
Net Income	71,465	81,938	76,445
Items not affecting cash:
Depreciation and amortization	44,178	40,648	38,834
Deferred income taxes	18,843	49,603	37,462
Provision for doubtful receivables	596	1,898	2,448
Employee benefit plan expenses	3,333	(1,080)	13,303
Equity earnings in ATC	(7,728)	(9,150)	(9,434)
Other items	1,223	1,280	651
Changes in working capital items:
Trade and other receivables (change)	11,079	(4,455)	(3,699)
Inventories (change)	(2,647)	(10,398)	2,488
Unbilled revenues (change)	6,254	720	(3,720)
Prepaid taxes (change)	4,824	(15,169)	(373)
Other current assets (change)	976	(5,693)	2,518
Accounts payable (change)	(3,587)	2,741	126
Accrued interest and taxes (change)	(18)	(1,001)	2,065
Other current liabilities (change)	1,885	(3,144)	2,975
Dividend income from ATC	6,645	7,740	7,404
Cash contributions to pension and other postretirement plans	(13,677)	(3,321)	(34,765)
Debt make-whole premium	0	0	(6,757)
Other noncurrent items, net	4,816	(4,619)	10,713
Cash Provided by (Used for) Operating Activities	148,460	128,538	138,684
Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures	(72,030)	(92,676)	(119,047)
Capital contributions to investments	(710)	(1,775)	(1,420)
Other investing	(180)	(1,146)	(130)
Cash Provided by (Used for) Investing Activities	(72,920)	(95,597)	(120,597)
Financing Activities:
Cash dividends paid to parent by MGE	(30,000)	(26,500)	(25,000)
Distributions to parent from noncontrolling interest	(14,708)	(21,359)	(27,365)
Equity contribution received by noncontrolling interest	3,230	1,775	1,420
Repayment of long-term debt	(4,182)	(4,103)	(43,012)
Issuance of long-term debt	0	0	85,000
(Decrease) increase in short-term debt	(7,000)	7,000	0
Other financing	(682)	0	(672)
Cash Provided by (Used for) Financing Activities	(53,342)	(43,187)	(9,629)
Change in cash and cash equivalents:	22,198	(10,246)	8,458
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	4,562	14,808	6,350
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	26,760	4,562	14,808
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Interest paid	19,636	20,478	17,991
Income taxes paid	29	67	144
Income taxes received	0	(644)	0
Significant noncash investing activities:
Accrued capital expenditures	$ 3,963	$ 1,569	$ 9,892