MGE Energy Inc Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Operating Activities:
Net Income	$ 97,606	$ 75,560	$ 71,343
Items not affecting cash:
Depreciation and amortization	53,077	44,646	44,225
Deferred income taxes	(4,082)	22,421	21,927
Provision for doubtful receivables	1,016	1,196	596
Employee benefit plan cost	831	295	3,333
Equity earnings in ATC	(10,125)	(8,428)	(7,728)
Gain on sale of property	(1,547)	0	0
Other items	748	1,426	721
Changes in working capital items:
Trade and other receivables (change)	(4,502)	(3,594)	4,508
Inventories (change)	(2,568)	7,273	(2,646)
Unbilled revenues (change)	(1,554)	(4,838)	6,254
Prepaid taxes (change)	101	8,616	3,658
Other current assets (change)	(1,275)	700	978
Accounts payable (change)	(5,290)	9,881	(3,499)
Other current liabilities (change)	3,948	(1,738)	(597)
Dividends from ATC	8,803	5,854	6,645
Cash contributions to pension and other postretirement plans	(11,304)	(14,452)	(13,676)
Other noncurrent items, net	9,108	2,695	5,143
Cash Provided by Operating Activities	132,991	147,513	141,185
Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures	(108,131)	(83,659)	(72,030)
Capital contributions to investments	(11,081)	(2,958)	(1,053)
Proceeds from sale of property	2,819	0	0
Other	32	(209)	(230)
Cash Used for Investing Activities	(116,361)	(86,826)	(73,313)
Financing Activities:
Cash dividends paid on common stock	(43,682)	(41,775)	(40,043)
Repayment of long-term debt	(34,358)	(4,267)	(4,182)
Issuance of long-term debt	70,000	0	0
Proceeds from (repayments of) short-term debt	4,000	0	(7,000)
Other	(597)	(70)	(1,018)
Cash Used for Financing Activities	(4,637)	(46,112)	(52,243)
Change in cash and cash equivalents:	11,993	14,575	15,629
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	95,959	81,384	65,755
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	107,952	95,959	81,384
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Interest paid	19,176	19,415	19,636
Income taxes paid	27,149	21,831	23,800
Income taxes received	0	(10,000)	(10,130)
Significant noncash investing activities:
Accrued capital expenditures	$ 16,602	$ 16,376	$ 3,963