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Investment in ATC | 3 Months Ended
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Mar. 31, 2013
Investment in ATC Disclosure [Abstract] |
Investment in ATC | 3. Investment in ATC - MGE Energy and MGE. ATC owns and operates electric transmission facilities primarily in Wisconsin. MGE received an interest in ATC when it, like other Wisconsin electric utilities, contributed its electric transmission facilities to ATC. That interest is presently held by MGE Transco, which is jointly owned by MGE Energy and MGE. MGE Transco has accounted for its investment in ATC under the equity method of accounting. For the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, MGE Transco recorded equity earnings fr om the investment in ATC of $2.4 million and $2.2 million, respectively. D ividend i ncome received from ATC was $1.8 million and $1.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. In addition, d uring the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, MGE Transco made $0.2 million and $0.4 million in capital contributions to ATC, respectively. On April 30, 2013, MGE Transco made a $0.5 million capital contribution to AT C. MGE Energy and MGE's investment in ATC as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 was $61.8 million and $61.0 million, respectively. At March 31, 2013, MGE is the majority owner, and MGE Energy, the holding company, is the minority owner of MGE Transco. MGE Energy's proportionate share of the equity and net income of MGE Transco is classified within the MGE financial statements as noncontrolling interest. ATC's summarized financial data for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, is as follows:
|  |  | Three Months Ended |
|  |  | March 31, |
| (In thousands) |  | 2013 |  | 2012 |
| Operating revenues | $ | 151,737 | $ | 147,662 |
| Operating expenses |  | (69,770) |  | (69,566) |
| Other expense, net |  | (448) |  | (500) |
| Interest expense, net |  | (21,044) |  | (19,501) |
| Earnings before members' income taxes | $ | 60,475 | $ | 58,095 |

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- Definition The entire disclosure for equity investment, or group of investments, for which combined disclosure is appropriate, including: (a) the name of each investee and percentage of ownership of common stock, (b) accounting policies for investments in common stock, (c) difference between the amount at which the investment is carried and the amount of underlying equity in net assets and the accounting treatment of the difference, (d) the total fair value of each identified investment for which a market value is available, (e) summarized information as to assets, liabilities, and results of operations of the investees (for investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries, common stock of joint ventures, or other investments using the equity method), and (f) material effects of possible conversions, exercises, or contingent issuances of the investee. Other disclosures include (a) the names of any investee in which the investor owns 20 percent or more of the voting stock and investment is not accounted for using the equity method, and the reasons why not, and (b) the names of any investee in which the investor owns less than 20 percent of the voting stock and the investment is accounted for using the equity method, and the reasons why it is. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6382943&loc=d3e33918-111571 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 35 -Paragraph 32 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6903645&loc=d3e32787-111569 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) -Number 18 -Paragraph 20 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.12) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 35 -Paragraph 35 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6903645&loc=d3e32847-111569 + Details
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