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Accounts Receivable
 12 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2017
Receivables [Abstract]  
Accounts Receivable

Note 3. Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable as of October 31, 2017 and 2016 consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

Advanced Technologies (including U.S.

   Government (1)):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amount billed

 

$

1,934

 

 

$

2,463

 

Unbilled recoverable costs

 

 

7,352

 

 

 

3,068

 

 

 

 

9,286

 

 

 

5,531

 

Commercial customers:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amount billed

 

 

41,073

 

 

 

5,411

 

Unbilled recoverable costs

 

 

18,162

 

 

 

13,651

 

 

 

 

59,235

 

 

 

19,062

 

 

 

$

68,521

 

 

$

24,593

 

 

(1)

Total U.S. government accounts receivable outstanding as of October 31, 2017 and 2016 is $3.2 million and $2.2 million, respectively.

We bill customers for power plant and power plant component sales based on certain contractual milestones being reached.  We bill service agreements based on the contract price and billing terms of the contracts. Generally, our Advanced Technologies contracts are billed based on actual recoverable costs incurred, typically in the month subsequent to incurring costs.  Some Advanced Technologies contracts are billed based on contractual milestones or costs incurred.  Unbilled recoverable costs relate to revenue recognized on customer contracts that has not been billed.  Accounts receivable are presented net of an allowance for doubtful accounts of $0.1 million and $0.2 million as of October 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.  Uncollectible accounts receivable are charged against the allowance for doubtful accounts when all collection efforts have failed and it is deemed unlikely that the amount will be recovered.

Accounts receivable from commercial customers (including unbilled recoverable costs) include amounts due from POSCO Energy of $6.2 million and $5.0 million, and amounts due from NRG of $0.1 million as of each of October 31, 2017 and 2016.  The Company also had amounts due to POSCO Energy of $32.7 million and $0 as of October 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, for the purchase of inventory.