Equity and Financing Arrangements	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016
Equity and Financing Arrangements Disclosure [Abstract]
Equity and Financing Arrangements	Equity and Financing Arrangements - MGE Energy. a. 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. For both the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, MGE Energy did not issue any new shares of common stock under the Stock Plan. b. Dilutive Shares Calculation. MGE Energy does not have any dilutive securities. c. Long-term Debt - MGE Energy and MGE. MGE has $30 million of medium-term notes maturing in 2017. MGE priced $40 million of new long-term unsecured debt in October 2016, with funding expected to occur in mid-January 2017. The new debt will carry an interest rate of 3.76% per annum over its 35-year term. The proceeds of this debt financing will be used to refinance the maturing $30 million medium-term notes and assist with the financing of additional capital expenditures. The covenants of this debt are expected to be substantially consistent with MGE's existing unsecured long-term debt. In accordance with applicable accounting guidance, MGE has classified the $30 million of maturing medium-term notes as long-term debt on the consolidated balance sheets for the quarter ended September 30, 2016.

Equity and Financing Arrangements

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2016

Equity and Financing Arrangements Disclosure [Abstract]

Equity and Financing Arrangements - MGE Energy.

a. 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. For both the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, MGE Energy did not issue any new shares of common stock under the Stock Plan.

b. Dilutive Shares Calculation.

MGE Energy does not have any dilutive securities.

c. Long-term Debt - MGE Energy and MGE.

MGE has $30 million of medium-term notes maturing in 2017. MGE priced $40 million of new long-term unsecured debt in October 2016, with funding expected to occur in mid-January 2017. The new debt will carry an interest rate of 3.76% per annum over its 35-year term. The proceeds of this debt financing will be used to refinance the maturing $30 million medium-term notes and assist with the financing of additional capital expenditures. The covenants of this debt are expected to be substantially consistent with MGE's existing unsecured long-term debt. In accordance with applicable accounting guidance, MGE has classified the $30 million of maturing medium-term notes as long-term debt on the consolidated balance sheets for the quarter ended September 30, 2016.