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Investments | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2013
Investments Disclosure [Abstract] |
Investments | Investments - MGE Energy and MGE. a. Equity Method Investments, Available for Sale Securities, and Other Investments.
|  |  | MGE Energy |  |  | MGE |
| (In thousands) |  | 2013 |  | 2012 |  |  | 2013 |  | 2012 |
| Available for sale securities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Cost basis | $ | 1,736 | $ | 1,575 |  | $ | 490 | $ | 490 |
| Gross unrealized gains |  | 629 |  | 161 |  |  | 321 |  | 10 |
| Gross unrealized losses |  | 0 |  | (3) |  |  | 0 |  | (3) |
| Fair value | $ | 2,365 | $ | 1,733 |  | $ | 811 | $ | 497 |
| Equity method investments: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| ATC | $ | 64,488 | $ | 61,038 |  | $ | 64,488 | $ | 61,038 |
| Other |  | 1,099 |  | 20 |  |  | 0 |  | 20 |
| Total equity method investments | $ | 65,587 | $ | 61,058 |  | $ | 64,488 | $ | 61,058 |
| Other investments |  | 0 |  | 1,804 |  |  | 0 |  | 0 |
| Total | $ | 67,952 | $ | 64,595 |  | $ | 65,299 | $ | 61,555 |
MGE Energy's and MGE's available for sale securities represent publicly traded securities and private equity investments in common stock of companies in various industries. During the year ended December 31, certain inves tments were liquidated. As a result of these liqu idations, MGE Energy and MGE received the following:
|  |  | MGE Energy |  | MGE |
| (In thousands) |  | 2013 |  | 2012 |  | 2011 |  | 2013 |  | 2012 |  | 2011 |
| Cash proceeds | $ | 39 | $ | 0 | $ | 260 | $ | 16 | $ | 0 | $ | 223 |
| Gain (loss) on sale |  | 2 |  | 0 |  | 198 |  | (3) |  | 0 |  | 171 |
b. ATC. 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 as required by Wisconsin law. 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 years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, MGE Transco recorded equity earnings fr om the investment in ATC of $9.4 million, $9.1 million, and $8.6 million, respectively. Dividends received from ATC were $7.4 million, $7.1 million, and $6.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, respectively. During the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, MGE Transco made $1.4 million, $2.1 million, and $0.9 million, respectively, in capital contributions to ATC. On January 31, 2014, MGE Transco made a $0.5 million capital contribution to ATC. At December 31, 2013 and 2012, MGE Transco held a 3.6% ownership interest in ATC. MGE Transco's investment balance is different from the amount of the underlying equity in the net assets of ATC. This difference is attributable to the allocation of certain tax impacts related to the initial asset transfer. At December 31, 2013 and 2012, 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 years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011 is as follows:
| (In thousands) |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Income statement data for the year ended December 31, |  | 2013 |  | 2012 |  | 2011 |
| Operating revenues | $ | 626,336 | $ | 603,254 | $ | 567,174 |
| Operating expenses |  | (295,069) |  | (280,999) |  | (261,568) |
| Other income (expense) |  | 831 |  | (2,533) |  | (1,332) |
| Interest expense, net |  | (84,484) |  | (82,296) |  | (80,359) |
| Earnings before members' income taxes | $ | 247,614 | $ | 237,426 | $ | 223,915 |
| Balance sheet data as of December 31, |  | 2013 |  | 2012 |  | 2011 |
| Current assets | $ | 80,715 | $ | 63,134 | $ | 58,671 |
| Noncurrent assets |  | 3,509,517 |  | 3,274,704 |  | 3,053,742 |
| Total assets | $ | 3,590,232 | $ | 3,337,838 | $ | 3,112,413 |
| Current liabilities | $ | 381,467 | $ | 251,541 | $ | 298,473 |
| Long-term debt |  | 1,550,000 |  | 1,550,000 |  | 1,400,005 |
| Other noncurrent liabilities |  | 126,167 |  | 95,829 |  | 82,647 |
| Members' equity |  | 1,532,598 |  | 1,440,468 |  | 1,331,288 |
| Total members' equity and liabilities | $ | 3,590,232 | $ | 3,337,838 | $ | 3,112,413 |

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