Construction Contracts

Construction contract costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings represent reimbursable costs and amounts earned under contracts in progress as of the balance sheet date. Such amounts become billable according to contract terms, which usually consider the passage of time, achievement of certain milestones or completion of the project. The Company expects to bill and collect substantially all construction contract costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings as of March 31, 2019 during the next twelve months.

Billings in excess of construction contract costs and estimated earnings represent billings or collections on contracts made in advance of revenue recognized.

The following table summarizes the changes to the balances in the Company’s construction contract costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings account and the billings in excess of construction contract costs and estimated earnings account for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 (in thousands):



	Three Months Ended March 31, 2019						Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
	Construction contract costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings			Billings in excess of construction contract costs and estimated earnings			Construction contract costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings			Billings in excess of construction contract costs and estimated earnings
Beginning balance	$	1,358		$	3,037		$	245		$	3,591
Revenue recognized that was included in the balance at the beginning of the period	—			(3,037		)	—			(3,591		)
Increases due to new billings, excluding amounts recognized as revenue during the period	—			3,859			—			2,313
Transferred to receivables	(1,358		)	—			(245		)	—
Construction contract costs and estimated earnings not billed during the period	17			—			315			—
Changes due to cumulative catch-up adjustment arising from changes in the estimate of the stage of completion	300			(237		)	—			(78		)
Ending balance	$	317		$	3,622		$	315		$	2,235

The Company defers pre-contract costs when such costs are directly associated with specific anticipated contracts and their recovery is probable. Pre-contract costs of $1.5 million and $1.4 million were deferred as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. Amortization of pre-contract costs for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 totaled less than $0.1 million.

Construction receivables and payables include retentions, amounts that are generally withheld until the completion of the contract or the satisfaction of certain restrictive conditions such as fulfillment guarantees. As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, construction receivables included retentions of $3.4 million and $8.5 million, respectively. The Company expects to collect substantially all construction receivables as of March 31, 2019 during the next twelve months. As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, construction payables included retentions of $18.0 million and $21.6 million, respectively. The Company expects to pay substantially all construction payables as of March 31, 2019 during the next twelve months.

The Company’s net position on uncompleted construction contracts comprised the following as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 (in thousands):



	March 31, 2019			December 31, 2018
Costs incurred on uncompleted construction contracts	$	610,292		$	594,006
Estimated earnings	21,100			20,375
Billings	(634,697		)	(616,060		)
Net position	$	(3,305	)	$	(1,679	)

Construction contract costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings	$	317		$	1,358
Billings in excess of construction contract costs and estimated earnings	(3,622		)	(3,037		)
Net position	$	(3,305	)	$	(1,679	)

The Company’s balances and changes in construction contract price allocated to unsatisfied performance obligations (backlog) as of March 31, 2019 and 2018 were as follows (in thousands):



	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2019			2018
Beginning backlog	$	165,863		$	49,167
New contracts/change orders	12,019			4,569
Work performed	(17,011		)	(23,003		)
Ending backlog	$	160,871		$	30,733

The Company expects to complete a majority of the uncompleted contracts as of March 31, 2019 during the next 12 to 18 months.