15.  Commitments and Contingencies

Purchase Commitments

As of December 31, 2013, the Company had firm commitments to purchase inventories of approximately $40.2 million through Fiscal 2015. Certain inventory delivery dates and related payments are not firmly scheduled; therefore, amounts under these firm purchase commitments will be payable upon the receipt of the related inventories.

Lease Commitments

The Company leases offices and manufacturing facilities under various non-cancelable operating leases expiring at various times through the fiscal year ending March 31, 2018. All of the leases require the Company to pay maintenance, insurance and property taxes. The lease agreements for primary office and manufacturing facilities provide for rent escalation over the lease term and renewal options for five-year periods. Rent expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. The difference between rent expense recorded and the amount paid is credited or charged to deferred rent, which is included in other long-term liabilities in the accompanying balance sheets. The balance of deferred rent was approximately $0.1 million as of December 31, 2013 and March 31, 2013, respectively. Rent expense was approximately $0.6 million and $0.5 million during the three months ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Rent expense was approximately $1.7 million and $1.6 million during the nine months ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Other Commitments

In September 2010, the Company was awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) for the research, development and testing of a more efficient microturbine CHP system. Part of the improved efficiency will come from an improved microturbine design, with a projected electrical efficiency of 42% and power output of 370 kW. The project is estimated to cost approximately $15.0 million. The DOE will contribute $5.0 million toward the project, and the Company will incur approximately $12.4 million in research and development expense. The contract is over a five-year period and will be completed by September 2015. The Company billed the DOE under the contract for this project a cumulative amount of $3.3 million through December 31, 2013.

In November 2009, the Company was awarded a grant from the DOE for the research, development and testing of a more fuel flexible microturbine capable of operating on a wider variety of biofuels. This program concluded in August 2013 and the Company billed the DOE a cumulative amount of $1.4 million under this contract.

The Company has agreements with some of its distributors requiring it to replace stocked parts if the Company renders parts obsolete in inventories the distributors own and hold in support of their obligations to serve fielded microturbines without charge to the distributors. While the Company has never incurred costs or obligations for these types of replacements, it is possible that future changes in the Company’s product technology could result and yield costs to the Company if significant amounts of inventory are held by distributors. As of December 31, 2013 and March 31, 2013, no significant inventories were held at distributors.

Legal Matters

From time to time, the Company may become subject to certain legal proceedings, claims and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of management, the Company is not currently a party to any material legal proceedings, nor is the Company aware of any pending or threatened litigation that would have a material effect on the Company’s operating results, cash flows, financial position or results of operations should such litigation be resolved unfavorably.