Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Tables) [Abstract]

Estimated Fair Market Value of Financial Instruments

		March 31, 2012				December 31, 2011
		Carrying		Fair		Carrying		Fair
(In thousands)		Amount		Value		Amount		Value
MGE Energy
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	40,660	$	40,660	$	41,169	$	41,169
Liabilities:
Long-term debt*		363,806		424,359		364,473		432,515

MGE
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		14,659		14,659		13,898		13,898
Liabilities:
Long-term debt*		363,806		424,359		364,473		432,515

*Includes long-term debt due within one year.

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

	Fair Value as of March 31, 2012
(In thousands)		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
MGE Energy
Assets:
Exchange-traded investments	$	361	$	361	$	0	$	0
Total Assets	$	361	$	361	$	0	$	0
Liabilities:
Derivatives, net^(a)	$	71,514	$	326	$	0	$	71,188
Deferred compensation		1,771		0		1,771		0
Total Liabilities	$	73,285	$	326	$	1,771	$	71,188

MGE
Assets:
Exchange-traded investments	$	162	$	162	$	0	$	0
Total Assets	$	162	$	162	$	0	$	0
Liabilities:
Derivatives, net^(a)	$	71,514	$	326	$	0	$	71,188
Deferred compensation		1,771		0		1,771		0
Total Liabilities	$	73,285	$	326	$	1,771	$	71,188

(a) These amounts are shown gross and exclude $2.0 million of collateral that was posted
against derivative positions with counterparties.

No transfers were made in or out of Level 1 or Level 2 for the three months ended March 31, 2012.

	Fair Value as of December 31, 2011
(In thousands)		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
MGE Energy
Assets:
Exchange-traded investments	$	350	$	350	$	0	$	0
Total Assets	$	350	$	350	$	0	$	0
Liabilities:
Derivatives, net^(b)	$	42,356	$	1,695	$	0	$	40,661
Deferred compensation^(c)		1,725		0		1,725		0
Total Liabilities	$	44,081	$	1,695	$	1,725	$	40,661

MGE
Assets:
Exchange-traded investments	$	188	$	188	$	0	$	0
Total Assets	$	188	$	188	$	0	$	0
Liabilities:
Derivatives, net^(b)	$	42,356	$	1,695	$	0	$	40,661
Deferred compensation^(c)		1,725		0		1,725		0
Total Liabilities	$	44,081	$	1,695	$	1,725	$	40,661

(b) These amounts are shown gross and exclude $3.0 million of collateral that was posted
against derivative positions with counterparties.

(c) The deferred compensation liability at December 31, 2011, was transferred from Level 1
to Level 2.

Significant Unobservable Inputs

	Significant Unobservable Inputs		Model Input
	Basis adjustment
	On peak		95.8%
	Off peak		95.4%
	Counterparty fuel mix:
	Internal generation		49 % - 65 %
	Purchased power		51 % - 35 %

Changes in Level 3 Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

		Three Months Ended
(In thousands)		March 31,
		2012		2011
Beginning balance,	$	(40,661)	$	(19,216)
Realized and unrealized gains (losses):
Included in regulatory liabilities (assets)		(30,527)		(2,932)
Included in other comprehensive income		0		0
Included in earnings		(1,502)		(8)
Included in current assets		(50)		0
Purchases		50		0
Sales		31		71
Issuances		0		0
Settlements		1,471		(63)
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3		0		0
Balance as of March 31,	$	(71,188)	$	(22,148)
Total gains (losses) included in earnings attributed to
the change in unrealized gains (losses) related to
assets and liabilities held at March 31,^(d)	$	0	$	0

Gains and Losses Included in Income for Level 3 Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

		Three Months Ended
(In thousands)		March 31,
		2012		2011
Purchased Power Expense	$	(1,502)	$	(8)
Cost of Gas Sold Expense		0		0
Regulated Gas Revenues		0		0
Total	$	(1,502)	$	(8)

- Definition

Tabular disclosure of the total amount of gains or losses for the period which are included in earnings or resulted in a change to net assets which gains or losses have arisen from the use of significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) to measure the fair value of assets and liabilities. Such gains or losses are attributable to the change in unrealized gains or losses relating to those assets and liabilities so valued which are still held at the reporting date and which change are also considered for disclosure; it may be expected that a description of where those unrealized gains or losses are reported in the statement of income or the statement of financial position would also be disclosed.

+ References+ Details

- Definition

Tabular disclosure of the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments, assets, and liabilities. Such certain disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate) and (2) the methodology and assumptions used in developing such estimates of fair value.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 10

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6947722&loc=d3e13433-108611

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 820

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6925170&loc=d3e19207-110258

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 107

-Paragraph 14

-Subparagraph a

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 30

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6957238&loc=d3e14172-108612

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 107

-Paragraph 15

-Subparagraph b-d

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 12

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6947722&loc=d3e13476-108611

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 107

-Paragraph 10

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 11

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6947722&loc=d3e13467-108611

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6447952&loc=d3e13220-108610

Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 159

-Paragraph 18

-Subparagraph c(2), d, e, f

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 11: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 157

-Paragraph 32

-Subparagraph a, c(1), c(2), c(3), d

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 12: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 159

-Paragraph 19

-Subparagraph a, b, c(1), d(1)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details