Madison Electric history

Despite these setbacks, the company profited enough to fund the 1915 remodeling at a cost of $150,000.

WPL was nearly as old as MGE, founded in 1917, and altogether about three times as large as its rival.

In 1918 Morris and Max changed the company’s name to the Morris H. Blumberg Electric Company.

By 1920, Madison's population had reached 31,000, and MGE had to build more power generating capacity.

The company remained in the East Jefferson building until 1922 when the Blumbergs incorporated and moved to a larger building across the street.

In 1929, along with their most successful salesman, they founded what is now our outstate affiliate, Standard Electric Company.

By 1942, the company served 24,000 electric meters and 18,500 gas meters, and the city of Madison had grown to roughly 74,000 people.

Just before the close of World War II, in 1944, MGE broke away from its parent company, American Light and Traction.

Starting in 1949, MGE began buying natural gas from a pipeline in Michigan.

In 1957, Madison Electric Company of Ann Arbor was founded by the Madison management team and one of their outside salesmen.

1960: Plentiful supply of natural gas is made available to MGE through Mich-Wis pipeline.

The company was part of a consortium of power companies that built a nuclear power plant in Kewaunee, Wisconsin beginning in 1967.

By the end of the 1970’s, the company had diversified into the world of industrial electronics, interconnect products, and custom made cable assemblies with the establishment of Madison Electronics Division.

That plant started operating in 1974 and provided about 26 percent of MGE's electric generating capacity by the end of the decade.

The firm borrowed money, owing $16 million by 1975.

An article in the May 19, 1986 Business Week speculated that MGE might be an attractive takeover target by its larger neighbor, Wisconsin Power and Light.

The Industrial Automation Division was added in 1987 to provide sales and design capabilities in the area of production computers, programmable controls, man/machine interface, and adjustable frequency drives.

In 1989, the 3rd generation began leadership of Madison Electric Company.

A new corporate home was acquired at 6000 Woodward that would remain Madison Electric Company headquarters until 1992.

In 1996 the state Public Service Commission adopted a proposal to open up the utility industry to competition, but it ordered a 32-step plan that would be enacted over the next three to seven years.

In 1997 MGE announced that these two subsidiaries would form a joint venture with National Gas and Electric, a Houston company, to investigate marketing natural gas and energy services in the Great Lakes region.

MGE ended the first quarter of 2000 with the highest per share earnings in its history.