18. Concentration of Risk in Customer and Supplier Relationships

Supplier Relationships

Historically, we obtained virtually all of our solar panels from Suntech and Lightway. During 2012, because of our cash position and liquidity constraints, we were late in making payments to both of these suppliers. On March 30, 2012, pursuant to our Supply Agreement with Lightway, we issued 1,900,000 shares of our common stock to Lightway in partial payment of our past due account payable to them. At the time of issuance, the shares were valued at $1,045,000. On May 1, 2012, Suntech filed a complaint for breach of contract, goods sold and delivered, account stated and open account against us in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of San Francisco. Suntech alleged that it delivered products and did not receive full payment from us. On July 31, 2012, we and Suntech entered into a settlement of this dispute. Because of our inability to make scheduled settlement payments, on March 15, 2013, Suntech entered a judgment against us in the amount of $946,438. As of December 31, 2013, Suntech has not sought to enforce its judgment. As of December 31, 2013, we have included in accounts payable in our Consolidated Balance Sheets a balance due to Suntech America of $946,438. We currently have no unshipped orders from Suntech or Lightway.

In May 2013, we entered into a new supply agreement for assembly of our proprietary modules with Environmental Engineering Group Pty Ltd (“EEG”), an assembler of polycrystalline modules located in Australia. In August 2013, we began receiving product from EEG and began shipping product to customers during the third calendar quarter of 2013. In September 2013, we entered into a second supply agreement for assembly of our proprietary modules with Tianwei New Energy Co, Ltd. (Tianwei), a panel supplier located in China. We began receiving product from Tianwei in February 2014. Although we believe we can find alternative suppliers for solar panels manufactured to our specifications, our operations would be disrupted unless we are able to rapidly secure alternative sources of supply, our inventory and revenue could diminish significantly, causing disruption to our operations.

Customer Relationships

The relative magnitude and the mix of revenue from our largest customers have varied significantly quarter to quarter. During the twelve months ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, four customers have accounted for significant revenues, varying by period, to our company: Sustainable Environmental Enterprises (SEE), a leading provider of renewable energy and development projects located in New Orleans, Louisiana, Lennox International Inc. (Lennox), a global leader in the heating and air conditioning markets, Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (Lowe’s), a nationwide home improvement retail chain, and Lennar Corporation (Lennar), a leading national homebuilder. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, the percentages of sales to SEE, Lennar, Lennox and Lowe’s are as follows:

SEE accounted for approximately $499,000 or 86.7% of our gross accounts receivable as of December 31, 2013. As of the date hereof, the $499,000 receivable from SEE is past due. SEE has indicated that the past-due payment is late due to a processing delay of a rebate owed to it from the State of Louisiana and expects that full payment will be made in a few weeks upon its receipt of the rebate. Notwithstanding, no assurance can be given by us as to when a rebate will be issued to SEE by the State of Louisiana or as to when or to what extent payment will be received by us if it isn’t issued timely. We had no receivable balance from Lennox, Lowe's or Lennar as of December 2013. Lennox and Lowe’s accounted for 5.9% and 4.0%, respectively, of our gross accounts receivable as of December 31, 2012. We had no receivable balance for SEE or Lennar as of December 31, 2012. 

We maintain reserves for potential credit losses and such losses, in the aggregate, have generally not exceeded management’s estimates. Our top three vendors accounted for approximately 25% and 36% of accounts payable as of and December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. At December 31, 2013 and 2012, accounts payable included amounts owed to our top three vendors of approximately $1.1 million and $960,000, respectively.