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Revenue
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2018
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]  
Revenue
Revenue

Adoption of ASC 606, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers"
On January 1, 2018, we adopted ASC 606 using the modified retrospective method applied to those contracts which were not completed as of January 1, 2018. Results for reporting periods beginning after January 1, 2018 are presented under ASC 606, while prior period amounts are not adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with our legacy accounting under Accounting Standards Codification Topic 605: Revenue Recognition (ASC 605).

The cumulative effect of the changes made to our January 1, 2018 consolidated balance sheet for the adoption of ASC 606 were as follows:
 
Balance at December 31, 2017
Adjustments Upon Adoption of ASC 606
Balance at January 1, 2018
Liabilities
 
 
 
Other accrued liabilities
$
5,098

(205
)
$
4,893

Equity
 
 
 
Accumulated deficit
(102,503
)
205

(102,298
)


The adjustment made to the January 1, 2018 consolidated balance sheet related to deferred revenue under ASC 605 for the license of standalone functional intellectual property to a customer in one of our foreign locations which is recognized at a point in time upon adoption of ASC 606.

Practical Expedients and Exemptions

We generally expense sales commissions on a ratable basis when incurred because the amortization period would have been one year or less. These costs are recorded within selling, general and administrative expenses within the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue when control of the promised goods or services is transferred to our customers, in amount that reflects the consideration we expect to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. Fuel Tech’s sales of products to customers represent single performance obligations, which are not impacted upon the adoption of ASC 606. The majority of our contracts have a single performance obligation as the promise to transfer the individual goods or services is not separately identifiable from other promises in the contracts and, therefore, not distinct. Revenue is measured as the amount of consideration we expect to receive in exchange for transferring goods or providing services. Sales, value add, and other taxes we collect concurrent with revenue-producing activities are excluded from revenue.

FUEL CHEM

Revenues from the sale of chemical products are recognized when control transfers to customer upon shipment or delivery of the product based on the applicable shipping terms. We generally recognize revenue for these arrangements at a point in time based on our evaluation of when the customer obtains control of the promised goods or services.

Air Pollution Control Technology
Fuel Tech’s APC contracts are typically six to eighteen months in length. A typical contract will have three or four critical operational measurements that, when achieved, serve as the basis for us to invoice the customer via progress billings. At a minimum, these measurements will include the generation of engineering drawings, the shipment of equipment and the completion of a system performance test.
As part of most of its contractual APC project agreements, Fuel Tech will agree to customer-specific acceptance criteria that relate to the operational performance of the system that is being sold. These criteria are determined based on modeling that is performed by Fuel Tech personnel, which is based on operational inputs that are provided by the customer. The customer will warrant that these operational inputs are accurate as they are specified in the binding contractual agreement. Further, the customer is solely responsible for the accuracy of the operating condition information; typically all performance guarantees and equipment warranties granted by us are voidable if the operating condition information is inaccurate or is not met.
Since control transfers over time, revenue is recognized based on the extent of progress towards completion of the single performance obligation. Fuel Tech uses the cost-to-cost input measure of progress for our contracts since it best depicts the transfer of assets to the customer which occurs as we incur costs on our contracts. Under the cost-to-cost input measure of progress, the extent of progress towards completion is measured based on the ratio of costs incurred to date to the total estimated costs at completion of the performance obligation. Revenues are recorded proportionally as costs are incurred. Costs to fulfill include all internal and external engineering costs, equipment charges, inbound and outbound freight expenses, internal and site transfer costs, installation charges, purchasing and receiving costs, inspection costs, warehousing costs, project personnel travel expenses and other direct and indirect expenses specifically identified as project- or product-line related, as appropriate (e.g. test equipment depreciation and certain insurance expenses).
Fuel Tech has installed over 1,000 units with APC technology and normally provides performance guarantees to our customers based on the operating conditions for the project. As part of the project implementation process, we perform system start-up and optimization services that effectively serve as a test of actual project performance. We believe that this test, combined with the accuracy of the modeling that is performed, enables revenue to be recognized prior to the receipt of formal customer acceptance.
Disaggregated Revenue by Product Technology
The following table presents our revenues disaggregated by product technology:
 
Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
2018
2017 (1)
2018
2017 (1)
Air Pollution Control
 
 
 
 
  Technology solutions
$
10,202

$
7,365

$
25,516

$
15,466

  Spare parts
334

312

863

848

  Ancillary revenue
346

1,122

1,493

2,032

Total Air Pollution Control Technology revenues
10,882

8,799

27,872

18,346

FUEL CHEM
 
 
 
 
   FUEL CHEM technology solutions
5,188

4,749

12,836

13,434

Total Revenues
$
16,070

$
13,548

$
40,708

$
31,780

(1) As noted above, prior period amounts have not been adjusted under the modified retrospective method.
Disaggregated Revenue by Geography
The following table presents our revenues disaggregated by geography, based on the billing addresses of our customers:
 
Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
2018
2017 (1)
2018
2017 (1)
United States
$
11,629

$
8,888

$
30,701

$
21,537

Foreign Revenues
 
 
 
 
  South America
278

35

904

260

  Europe
1,907

2,532

4,935

4,513

  Asia
2,256

2,093

4,168

5,470

Total Foreign Revenues
4,441

4,660

10,007

10,243

Total Revenues
$
16,070

$
13,548

$
40,708

$
31,780

(1) As noted above, prior period amounts have not been adjusted under the modified retrospective method.
Timing of Revenue Recognition
The following table presents the timing of our revenue recognition:
 
Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
2018
2017 (1)
2018
2017 (1)
Products transferred at a point in time
5,868

6,183

15,192

16,314

Products and services transferred over time
10,202

7,365

25,516

15,466

Total Revenues
16,070

13,548

40,708

31,780


(1) As noted above, prior period amounts have not been adjusted under the modified retrospective method.

Contract Balances
The timing of revenue recognition, billings and cash collections results in billed accounts receivable, unbilled receivables (contract assets), and customer advances and deposits (contract liabilities) on the consolidated balance sheets. In our Air Pollution Control Technology segment, amounts are billed as work progresses in accordance with agreed-upon contractual terms. Generally, billing occurs subsequent to revenue recognition, resulting in contract assets. These assets are reported on the consolidated balance sheet on a contract-by-contract basis at the end of each reporting period. At September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, contract assets were approximately $11,146 and $7,894, respectively, and are included in accounts receivable on the consolidated balance sheets.

However, the Company will periodically bill in advance of costs incurred before revenue is recognized, resulting in contract liabilities. These liabilities are reported on the consolidated balance sheet on a contract-by-contract basis at the end of each reporting period. Contract liabilities were $1,208 and $2,403, at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively, and are included in other accrued liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets.

Changes in the contract asset and liability balances during the nine month period ended September 30, 2018, were not materially impacted by any other items other than amounts billed and revenue recognized as described previously. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, revenue recognized that was included in the contract liability balance at the beginning of the period was $7 and $2,165, respectively, which represented primarily revenue from progress towards completion of our Air Pollution Control technology contracts. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, revenue recognized that was included in the contract liability balance at the beginning of the period was $243 and $1,472, respectively, which represented primarily revenue from progress towards completion of our Air Pollution Control technology contracts.
As of September 30, 2018, we had six construction contracts in progress that were identified as loss contracts and a provision for losses of $159 was recorded in other accrued liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet. As of December 31, 2017, we had four construction contracts in progress that were identified as loss contracts and a provision for losses in the amount of $117 was recorded in other accrued liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet.
Remaining Performance Obligations
Remaining performance obligations, represents the transaction price of Air Pollution Control technology booked orders for which work has not been performed. As of September 30, 2018, the aggregate amount of the transaction price allocated to remaining performance obligations was $21,299. The Company expects to recognize revenue on approximately $19,536 of the remaining performance obligations over the next 12 months with the remaining recognized thereafter.