Madison Gas and Electric Company Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) (MGE [Member], USD $) In Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
MGE [Member]
Operating Activities:
Net Income	$ 51,770	$ 46,049
Items not affecting cash:
Depreciation and amortization	30,669	28,263
Deferred income taxes	16,160	9,239
Provision for doubtful receivables	1,441	1,785
Employee benefit plan expenses	10,259	9,068
Equity earnings in ATC	(6,434)	(6,374)
Gain on sale of property	(74)	(3,129)
Other items	1,542	2,049
Changes in working capital items:
Decrease in current assets	26,349	19,201
Decrease in current liabilities	(10,407)	(1,127)
Dividend income from ATC	5,012	5,000
Cash contributions to pension and other postretirement plans	(22,484)	(15,333)
Other noncurrent items, net	1,238	2,532
Cash Provided by Operating Activities	105,041	97,223
Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures	(44,859)	(43,236)
Capital contributions to investments	(888)	(533)
Proceeds from sale of property	74	3,334
Other	299	8
Cash Used for Investing Activities	(45,374)	(40,427)
Financing Activities:
Cash dividends paid to parent by MGE	(19,921)	(19,553)
Distributions to parent from noncontrolling interest	(43,000)	(50,293)
Equity contribution received by noncontrolling interest	888	533
Affiliate financing of Elm Road	0	(4,193)
Repayment of long-term debt	(1,834)	(1,111)
Issuance of long-term debt	30,000	50,000
Decrease in short-term debt	(3,500)	(19,000)
Other	(297)	(850)
Cash Used for Financing Activities	(37,664)	(44,467)
Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents:	22,003	12,329
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	4,494	2,474
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 26,497	$ 14,803