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Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

MGE Power Elm Road and MGE Power West Campus own electric generating assets and lease those assets to MGE. Both entities are variable interest entities under applicable authoritative accounting guidance. MGE is considered the primary beneficiary of these entities as a result of contractual agreements. As a result, MGE has consolidated MGE Power Elm Road and MGE Power West Campus.

Common Stock

MGE Energy sells shares of its common stock through its Stock Plan. Those shares may be newly issued shares or shares that MGE Energy has purchased in the open market for resale to participants in the Stock Plan. All sales under the Stock Plan are covered by a shelf registration statement that MGE Energy filed with the SEC.

Investments - ATC

MGE Transco has accounted for its investment in ATC under the equity method of accounting.

Chattel Paper Agreement

MGE makes available to qualifying customers a financing program for the purchase and installation of energy-related equipment that will provide more efficient use of utility service at the customer's property. The energy-related equipment installed at the customer sites is used to secure the customer loans. MGE is a party to a chattel paper purchase agreement with a financial institution under which it can sell or finance an undivided interest with recourse, in up to $10.0 million of the financing program receivables, until July 31, 2016. The length of the MGE guarantee to the financial institution varies from one to ten years depending on the term of the underlying customer loan. The loan balances outstanding at September 30, 2015, approximate the fair value of the energy-related equipment acting as collateral. MGE accounts for these agreements as secured borrowings.

Prior to the Transfers and Servicing Asset authoritative accounting guidance that became effective in 2015, these agreements were treated as off-balance sheet arrangements. Beginning January 1, 2015, these agreements are included as assets and liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet. As of September 30, 2015, assets (other accounts receivable and other deferred assets) and liabilities (accounts payable and other deferred liabilities) increased approximately $3.8 million as a cumulative result of the guidance. In addition, the cumulative effect of this guidance resulted in a $0.1 million reduction in retained earnings.

Share-based Compensation

Under MGE Energy's Performance Unit Plan, eligible employees may receive performance units that entitle the holder to receive a cash payment equal to the value of a designated number of shares of MGE Energy's common stock, plus dividend equivalent payments thereon, at the end of the set performance period.

On February 20, 2015, 18,948 units were granted based on the MGE Energy closing stock price as of that date. Units are subject to a five-year graded vesting schedule. On the grant date, MGE Energy and MGE measure the cost of the employee services received in exchange for a performance unit award based on the current market value of MGE Energy common stock. The fair value of the awards has been subsequently re-measured at September 30, 2015, as required by applicable accounting standards. Changes in fair value have been recognized as compensation cost. Since this amount is re-measured quarterly throughout the vesting period, the compensation cost is subject to variability.

For nonretirement eligible employees, stock based compensation costs are accrued and recognized using the graded vesting method. Compensation cost for retirement eligible employees or employees that will become retirement eligible during the vesting schedule are recognized on an abridged horizon.

In December 2013, a Director Incentive Plan was approved for the non-employee members of the Board of Directors. This plan is similar to MGE Energy's Performance Unit Plan for eligible employees described above. Under the plan, a non-employee director can receive performance units that entitle the holder to receive a cash payment equal to the value of a designated number of shares of MGE Energy's common stock, plus dividend payments, at the end of the set performance period. The units are subject to a three-year graded vesting schedule. In January 2015, 3,794 units were granted. For accounting purposes, the awards will be measured similarly to the employee unit awards.

Derivative Hedging

As part of its regular operations, MGE enters into contracts, including options, swaps, futures, forwards, and other contractual commitments, to manage its exposure to commodity prices. To the extent that these contracts are derivatives, MGE assesses whether or not the normal purchases or normal sales exclusion applies. For contracts to which this exclusion cannot be applied, MGE Energy and MGE recognize such derivatives in the consolidated balance sheets at fair value. MGE's commodity derivative activities are conducted in accordance with its electric and gas risk management program, which is approved by the PSCW and limits the volume MGE can hedge with specific risk management strategies. The maximum length of time over which cash flows related to energy commodities can be hedged is four years. If the derivative qualifies for regulatory deferral, the derivatives are marked to fair value and are offset with a corresponding regulatory asset or liability. The deferred gain or loss is recognized in earnings in the delivery month applicable to the instrument. Gains and losses related to hedges qualifying for regulatory treatment are recoverable in gas rates through the PGA or in electric rates as a component of the fuel rules mechanism.

Derivative Netting

All derivative instruments in this table are presented on a gross basis and are calculated prior to the netting of instruments with the same counterparty under a master netting agreement as well as the netting of collateral. For financial statement purposes, MGE Energy and MGE have netted instruments with the same counterparty under a master netting agreement as well as the netting of collateral.

Wisconsin Fuel Rules

Fuel rules require the PSCW and Wisconsin utilities to defer electric fuel-related costs that fall outside a symmetrical cost tolerance band around the amount approved for a utility in its annual fuel proceedings. Any over/under recovery of the actual costs is determined on an annual basis and is adjusted in future billings to electric retail customers. The fuel rules bandwidth is currently set at plus or minus 2%. Under fuel rules, MGE would defer costs, less any excess revenues, if its actual electric fuel costs exceeded 102% of the electric fuel costs allowed in its latest rate order. Excess revenues are defined as revenues in the year in question that provide MGE with a greater return on common equity than authorized by the PSCW in MGE's latest rate order. Conversely, MGE is required to defer the benefit of lower costs if actual electric fuel costs were less than 98% of the electric fuel costs allowed in that order.

Purchased Gas Adjustment Clause

MGE's natural gas rates are subject to a fuel adjustment clause designed to recover or refund the difference between the actual cost of purchased gas and the amount included in rates. Differences between the amounts billed to customers and the actual costs recoverable are deferred and recovered or refunded in future periods by means of prospective monthly adjustments to rates. At September 30, 2015, and December 31, 2014, MGE had over collected $1.1 million and $1.2 million, respectively, which was recorded in other current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets.

New Accounting Pronouncements Disclosure

New Accounting Pronouncements - MGE Energy and MGE.

a. Transfers and Servicing Assets.

In June 2014, the FASB issued authoritative guidance within the Codification's Transfers and Servicing topic that provides guidance on the accounting and disclosures for repurchase-to-maturity transactions, securities lending transactions, and repurchase financings. This authoritative guidance became effective January 1, 2015. The authoritative guidance changed the accounting for the Chattel Paper program and required additional disclosures. Prior to adoption of the standard, Chattel Paper was treated as an off-balance sheet arrangement. See Footnote 4 for additional information.

b. Revenue from Contracts with Customers.

In May 2014, the FASB issued authoritative guidance within the Codification's Revenue Recognition topic that provides guidance on the recognition, measurement, and disclosure of revenue from contracts with customers. This authoritative guidance was scheduled to become effective January 1, 2017. In July 2015, the FASB deferred the effective date to January 1, 2018. MGE Energy and MGE are currently assessing the impact this pronouncement will have on their financial statements.

c. Consolidations.

In February 2015, the FASB issued authoritative guidance within the Codification's Consolidation topic that provides guidance on the evaluation of certain legal entities for consolidation purposes. This authoritative guidance will become effective January 1, 2016. The impact of this guidance on our financial statements is not expected to be material.

d. Debt Issuance Costs.

In April 2015, the FASB issued authoritative guidance within the Codification's Interest topic that provides guidance on the presentation of debt issuance costs in financial statements. This authoritative guidance will become effective January 1, 2016. The authoritative guidance changes the presentation of debt issuance costs on the balance sheet from an asset to a direct deduction from the related debt liability. The impact of this guidance on our financial statements is not expected to be material.

e. Cloud Computing Arrangements.

In April 2015, the FASB issued authoritative guidance within the Codification's Software topic that provides guidance on the accounting treatment of cloud computer arrangements. This authoritative guidance will become effective January 1, 2016. The authoritative guidance provides criteria for determining whether a cloud computing arrangement contains a software license that should be accounted for as internal-use software. The impact of this guidance on our financial statements is not expected to be material.

f. Inventory Measurement.

In July 2015, the FASB issued authoritative guidance within the Codification's Inventory topic that provides guidance on the subsequent measurement of inventory. This authoritative guidance will become effective January 1, 2017. The authoritative guidance changes the subsequent measurement of inventory from the lower of cost or market to the lower of cost or net realizable value. MGE Energy and MGE are currently assessing the impact this pronouncement will have on their financial statements.

Recurring Fair Value Measurements

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or would be paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The accounting standard clarifies that fair value should be based on the assumptions market participants would use when pricing the asset or liability including assumptions about risk. The standard also establishes a three level fair value hierarchy based upon the observability of the assumptions used and requires the use of observable market data when available. The levels are:

Level 1 - Pricing inputs are quoted prices within active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2 - Pricing inputs are quoted prices within active markets for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations that are correlated with or otherwise verifiable by observable market data.

Level 3 - Pricing inputs are unobservable and reflect management's best estimate of what market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.

At September 30, 2015, and December 31, 2014, the carrying amount of cash, cash equivalents, and outstanding commercial paper approximates fair market value due to the short maturity of those investments and obligations. The estimated fair market value of MGE Energy's and MGE's long-term debt is based on quoted market prices for similar financial instruments at September 30, 2015, and December 31, 2014. Since long-term debt is not traded in an active market, it is classified as Level 2.

Investments include exchange-traded investment securities valued using quoted prices on active exchanges and are therefore classified as Level 1.

Derivatives include exchange-traded derivative contracts, over-the-counter transactions, a purchased power agreement, and FTRs. Most exchange-traded derivative contracts are valued based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets and are therefore classified as Level 1. A small number of exchange-traded derivative contracts are valued using quoted market pricing in markets with insufficient volumes and are therefore classified as Level 3. Transactions done with an over-the-counter party are on inactive markets and are therefore considered unobservable and classified as Level 3. These transactions are valued based on quoted prices from markets with similar exchange traded transactions. FTRs are priced based upon monthly auction results for identical or similar instruments in a closed market with limited data available and are therefore classified as Level 3.

The purchased power agreement (see Footnote 9) was valued using an internally-developed pricing model and therefore is classified as Level 3. The model projects future market energy prices and compares those prices to the projected power costs to be incurred under the contract. Inputs to the model require significant management judgment and estimation. Future energy prices are based on a forward power pricing curve using exchange-traded contracts in the electric futures market, where such exchange-traded contracts exist, and upon calculations based on forward gas prices, where such exchange-traded contracts do not exist. A basis adjustment is applied to the market energy price to reflect the price differential between the market price delivery point and the counterparty delivery point. The historical relationship between the delivery points is reviewed and a discount (below 100%) or premium (above 100%) is derived. This comparison is done for both peak times when demand is high and off peak times when demand is low. If the basis adjustment is lowered, the fair value measurement will decrease, and if the basis adjustment is increased, the fair value measurement will increase.

The projected power costs anticipated to be incurred under the purchased power agreement are determined using many factors, including historical generating costs, future prices, and expected fuel mix of the counterparty. An increase in the projected fuel costs would result in a decrease in the fair value measurement of the purchased power agreement. A significant input that MGE estimates is the counterparty's fuel mix in determining the projected power cost. MGE also considers the assumptions that market participants would use in valuing the asset or liability. This consideration includes assumptions about market risk such as liquidity, volatility, and contract duration. The fair value model uses a discount rate that incorporates discounting, credit, and model risks.

This model is prepared by members of MGE's Energy Accounting department. On a quarterly basis, management in the Energy Supply and Finance departments review the assumptions, inputs, and fair value measurements.

The following table presents the significant unobservable inputs used in the pricing model.

	Model Input
Significant Unobservable Inputs	September 30, 2015	December 31, 2014
Basis adjustment:
On peak	97.4%	98.1%
Off peak	95.4%	95.0%
Counterparty fuel mix:
Internal generation	60% - 75%	50% - 70%
Purchased power	40% - 25%	50% - 30%

The deferred compensation plan allows participants to defer certain cash compensation into a notional investment account. These amounts are included within other deferred liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets of MGE Energy and MGE. The notional investments earn interest based upon the semiannual rate of U.S. Treasury Bills having a 26 week maturity increased by 1% compounded monthly with a minimum annual rate of 7%, compounded monthly. The notional investments are based upon observable market data, however, since the deferred compensation obligations themselves are not exchanged in an active market, they are classified as Level 2.