Investment in ATC and ATC Holdco (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]

Equity Method Investments Financial Data

MGE Transco and MGEE Transco have accounted for their investments in ATC and ATC Holdco, respectively, under the equity method of accounting.Equity earnings from investments are recorded as "Other income" on the consolidated statements of income of MGE Energy. For the three and nine months endedSeptember 30,2018 and 2017, MGE Transco recorded the following:

		Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
		September 30,				September 30,
(In thousands)		2018		2017		2018		2017
Equity earnings from investment in ATC	$	1,672	$	2,338	$	6,113	$	7,432
Dividends from ATC(a)		1,581		2,070		4,540		4,070
Capital contributions to ATC		533		710		2,308		3,018

(a)MGE Transco recorded a $2.3 million and $2.1 million dividend receivable from ATC as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. A cash dividend was received in January of each of the proceeding years.MGE Transco recorded a $1.6 million dividend receivable from ATC as of September 30, 2018. A cash dividend was received in October 2018.

ATC's summarized financial data for the three and nine months endedSeptember 30,2018 and 2017, is as follows:

		Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
		September 30,				September 30,
(In thousands)		2018		2017		2018		2017
Operating revenues	$	170,341	$	171,123	$	501,276	$	522,402
Operating expenses		(87,959)		(85,372)		(264,326)		(251,042)
Other income, net		439		1,272		2,070		3,043
Interest expense, net		(27,754)		(28,440)		(82,411)		(81,690)
Earnings before members' income taxes	$	55,067	$	58,583	$	156,609	$	192,713