Schedule I - Condensed Parent Company Finanical Statements (Details-Comprehensive Income Statement Parentheticals) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Unrealized (loss) gain on available-for-sale securities, taxes	$ (67)	$ 54	$ 189
MGE Energy [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Unrealized (loss) gain on available-for-sale securities, taxes	$ (67)	$ 54	$ 189

Amount of tax expense (benefit) before reclassification adjustments of unrealized holding gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 12
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36458714&loc=d3e640-108580

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 10A
-Subparagraph (e,f)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36458714&loc=SL7669646-108580

Name:	us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration