Madison Gas and Electric Company Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Items not affecting cash:
Depreciation and amortization	$ 40,942	$ 37,960	$ 41,080
Deferred income taxes	33,698	25,381	17,710
Provision for doubtful receivables	2,312	2,805	3,409
Employee benefit plan expenses	13,703	14,748	7,167
Equity earnings in ATC	(8,615)	(8,501)	(8,173)
Gain on sale of property	(112)	(3,153)	(69)
Other items	1,728	2,254	1,586
Changes in working capital items:
Receivable - margin account (change)	(2,609)	1,159	11,256
Trade and other receivables, net (change)	173	(8,191)	11,188
Inventories (change)	7,438	3,755	9,972
Unbilled revenues (change)	3,466	(41)	5,522
Prepaid taxes (change)	245	7,540	(14,365)
Other current assets (change)	538	(977)	2,407
Accounts payable (change)	2,055	(2,895)	(9,037)
Other current liabilities (change)	(4,300)	(4,195)	(4,304)
Dividend income from ATC	6,728	6,667	6,285
Cash contributions to pension and other postretirement plans	(23,670)	(16,901)	(15,278)
Other noncurrent items, net	(3,876)	8,900	556
Cash Provided by (Used for) Operating Activities	130,772	124,033	117,909
Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures	(65,176)	(60,082)	(77,929)
Capital contributions to investments	(1,008)	(810)	(3,701)
Repayment to WEPCO for ATC Elm Road Work	0	0	3,300
Purchase of investment - land	(2,152)	0	0
Proceeds from sale of property	112	3,358	82
Other	1,873	149	(1,727)
Cash Provided by (Used for) Investing Activities	(66,351)	(57,385)	(79,975)
Financing Activities:
Cash dividends paid on common stock	(35,026)	(34,370)	(33,693)
Issuance of common stock, net	0	0	6,275
Repayment of long-term debt	(2,500)	(16,527)	0
Issuance of long-term debt	30,000	80,000	0
Decrease in short-term debt	(22,500)	(92,000)	(10,000)
Other	(336)	(1,345)	82
Cash Provided by (Used for) Financing Activities	(30,362)	(64,242)	(37,336)
Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents:	34,059	2,406	598
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	7,110	4,704	4,106
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	41,169	7,110	4,704
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Interest paid	19,788	18,643	16,577
Income taxes paid	5,537	10,373	24,172
Income taxes received	(4,370)	(9,043)	(1)
MGE [Member]
Operating Activities:
Net Income	61,252	58,465	49,752
Items not affecting cash:
Depreciation and amortization	40,942	37,960	41,080
Deferred income taxes	32,773	24,354	16,508
Provision for doubtful receivables	2,312	2,805	3,409
Employee benefit plan expenses	13,703	14,748	7,167
Equity earnings in ATC	(8,615)	(8,501)	(8,173)
Gain on sale of property	(112)	(3,153)	(69)
Other items	2,284	2,788	2,160
Changes in working capital items:
Receivable - margin account (change)	(2,609)	1,159	11,256
Trade and other receivables, net (change)	1,183	(6,271)	11,112
Inventories (change)	7,438	3,755	9,972
Unbilled revenues (change)	3,466	(41)	5,522
Prepaid taxes (change)	(477)	(2,667)	(4,820)
Other current assets (change)	536	(978)	2,411
Accounts payable (change)	4,214	(2,913)	(9,004)
Accrued interest and taxes (change)	(3,741)	1,169	(4,182)
Other current liabilities (change)	(4,027)	(4,065)	(4,477)
Dividend income from ATC	6,728	6,667	6,285
Cash contributions to pension and other postretirement plans	(23,670)	(16,901)	(15,278)
Other noncurrent items, net	(3,897)	6,812	633
Cash Provided by (Used for) Operating Activities	129,683	115,192	121,264
Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures	(65,176)	(60,082)	(77,929)
Capital contributions to investments	(888)	(710)	(3,551)
Repayment to WEPCO for ATC Elm Road Work	0	0	3,300
Proceeds from sale of property	112	3,358	82
Other	230	(2)	(246)
Cash Provided by (Used for) Investing Activities	(65,722)	(57,436)	(78,344)
Financing Activities:
Cash dividends paid to parent by MGE	(26,648)	(26,150)	(19,318)
Distributions to parent from noncontrolling interest	(52,500)	(58,400)	(12,648)
Equity contribution received by noncontrolling interest	888	710	3,551
Affiliate financing of Elm Road	0	(4,193)	4,151
Repayment of long-term debt	(2,500)	(16,527)	0
Issuance of long-term debt	30,000	80,000	0
Decrease in short-term debt	(3,500)	(30,000)	(17,500)
Other	(297)	(1,176)	0
Cash Provided by (Used for) Financing Activities	(54,557)	(55,736)	(41,764)
Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents:	9,404	2,020	1,156
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	4,494	2,474	1,318
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	13,898	4,494	2,474
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Interest paid	19,731	18,363	15,960
Income taxes paid	28	3	25
Income taxes received	$ (10)	$ (5)	$ (1)