MGE Energy Inc Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Operating Activities:
Net Income	$ 84,219	$ 97,606	$ 75,560
Items not affecting cash:
Depreciation and amortization	56,412	53,077	44,646
Deferred income taxes	3,749	(4,082)	22,421
Provision for doubtful receivables	1,366	1,016	1,196
Employee benefit plan (credit) cost	(2,002)	831	295
Equity earnings in ATC	(8,821)	(10,125)	(8,428)
Gain on sale of property	0	(1,547)	0
Other items	(814)	641	2,462
Changes in working capital items:
Trade and other receivables (change)	(2,235)	(4,502)	(3,594)
Inventories (change)	2,724	(2,568)	7,273
Unbilled revenues (change)	3,157	(1,554)	(4,838)
Prepaid taxes (change)	10,320	101	8,616
Other current assets (change)	251	(2,786)	15
Accounts payable (change)	(4,855)	(5,290)	9,881
Other current liabilities (change)	11,957	3,948	(1,738)
Dividends from investment	6,958	8,803	5,854
Cash contributions to pension and other postretirement plans	(5,584)	(11,304)	(14,452)
Other noncurrent items, net	(3,762)	9,108	2,695
Cash Provided by Operating Activities	153,040	131,373	147,864
Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures	(212,197)	(108,131)	(83,659)
Capital contributions to investments	(5,926)	(11,081)	(2,958)
Proceeds from sale of property	0	2,819	0
Other	(205)	118	(196)
Cash Used for Investing Activities	(218,328)	(116,275)	(86,813)
Financing Activities:
Cash dividends paid on common stock	(45,762)	(43,682)	(41,775)
Repayment of long-term debt	(24,453)	(34,358)	(4,267)
Issuance of long-term debt	100,000	70,000	0
Proceeds from short-term debt	9,000	4,000	0
Other	(662)	(597)	(70)
Cash Provided by (Used for) Financing Activities	38,123	(4,637)	(46,112)
Change in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash:	(27,165)	10,461	14,939
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period	112,094	101,633	86,694
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period	84,929	112,094	101,633
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Interest paid	20,018	19,176	19,415
Income taxes paid	12,597	27,149	21,831
Income taxes received	(59)	0	(10,000)
Significant noncash investing activities:
Accrued capital expenditures	$ 11,129	$ 16,602	$ 16,376