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Accounts Receivable
 3 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2012
Accounts Receivable [Abstract]  
Accounts Receivable

Note 6. Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable at January 31, 2012 and October 31, 2011 consisted of the following:

 

                 
    January 31,
2012		     October 31,
2011		  

U.S. Government:

                

Amount billed

   $ 256     $ 52  

Unbilled recoverable costs

     1,134       1,012  
   

 

 

    

 

 

  
      1,390       1,064  
   

 

 

    

 

 

  

Commercial Customers:

                

Amount billed

     15,511       10,330  

Unbilled recoverable costs

     6,991       10,556  
   

 

 

    

 

 

  
      22,502       20,886  
   

 

 

    

 

 

  
    $ 23,892     $ 21,950  
   

 

 

    

 

 

  

We bill customers for power plant and module sales based on certain milestones being reached. We bill the U.S. government for research and development contracts based on actual recoverable costs incurred, typically in the month subsequent to incurring costs. Included in Commercial Customers accounts receivable are amounts due from POSCO of $7.1 million at January 31, 2012 and October 31, 2011. Unbilled recoverable costs relate to revenue recognized on customer contracts that have not been billed. Accounts receivable are presented net of an allowance for doubtful accounts of $0.6 million at January 31, 2012 and October 31, 2011.