Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Contractual Obligation, Fiscal Year Maturity Schedule

As of December 31,2016, the future minimum commitments related to these purchase contracts were as follows:

(In thousands)		2017		2018		2019		2020		2021		Thereafter
Coal(a)	$	21,246	$	14,763	$	7,281	$	-	$	-	$	-
Natural gas
Transportation and storage(b)		20,859		20,645		19,483		15,226		8,443		23,331
Supply(c)		17,783		-		-		-		-		-
Purchase power(d)		48,056		46,563		33,670		32,577		33,266		66,231
Other		14,902		324		143		-		-		-
	$	122,846	$	82,295	$	60,577	$	47,803	$	41,709	$	89,562

(a)Total coal commitments for the Columbia and Elm Road Units, including transportation. Fuel procurement for MGE's jointly owned Columbia and Elm Road Units is handled by WPL and WEPCO, respectively, who are the operators of those facilities. If any minimum purchase obligations must be paid under these contracts, management believes these obligations would be considered costs of service and recoverable in rates.

(b)MGE's natural gas transportation and storage contracts require fixed monthly payments for firm supply pipeline transportation and storage capacity. The pricing components of the fixed monthly payments for the transportation and storage contracts are established by FERC but may be subject to change. Management expects to recover these costs in future customer rates.

(c)These commitments include market-based pricing. Management expects to recover these costs in future customer rates.

(d)MGE has several purchase power agreements to help meet future electric supply requirements. Management expects to recover these costs in future customer rates. In October 2008, MGE entered into a purchase power agreement to help meet future electric supply requirements. Under this agreement, MGE has agreed to purchase 50 MW of wind power from Osceola Windpower II, LLC, which is located in Iowa. This facility became operational in October 2008. MGE does not have any capacity payment commitments under this agreement. However, MGE is obligated to purchase its ratable share of the energy produced by the project. MGE's commitment related to its ratable share of energy produced by the project has been estimated and is included in the above numbers. Management expects to recover these costs in future customer rates.

Operating Leases, Future Minimum Rental Payments

Future minimum rental payments at December 31,2016, under agreements classified as operating leases with noncancelable terms in excess of one year are as follows:

(In thousands)		2017		2018		2019		2020		2021		Thereafter
Minimum lease payments	$	1,331	$	959	$	441	$	310	$	278	$	8,020

Other Commitments

MGE has several other commitments related to various projects. Payments for these commitments are expected to be as follows:

(In thousands)		2017		2018		2019		2020		2021		Thereafter
Other commitments	$	1,317	$	1,175	$	511	$	497	$	440	$	5,646