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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes included in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Report. In addition to our historical consolidated financial information, the following discussion contains forward-looking statements that reflect our plans, estimates, and beliefs. Our actual results and the timing of certain events could differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to these differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed below and elsewhere in this Report, particularly in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors.”

This MD&A section generally discusses 2022 and 2021 items and year-to-year comparisons between 2022 and 2021. Discussions of 2020 items and year-to-year comparisons between 2021 and 2020 that are not included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K can be found in the section entitled “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results or Operations” contained in our Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 28, 2022.

The Merger

The information regarding the Merger set forth in the first paragraph of “Item 1. Business — History” above is incorporated herein by reference. See also Note 1 —Business, in the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. For financial reporting purposes, Legacy Stem is treated as the accounting acquirer.

Acquisition of AlsoEnergy

On February 1, 2022, we acquired 100% of the issued and outstanding capital stock of AlsoEnergy. The transaction combines our storage optimization capabilities with AlsoEnergy’s solar asset performance monitoring and control software. Through AlsoEnergy, we provide end-to-end turnkey solutions that monitor and manage renewable energy systems through AlsoEnergy’s PowerTrack software. PowerTrack includes data acquisitions and monitoring, performance modelling, agency reporting, internal reports, work order tickets, and supervisory control and data acquisition (“SCADA”) controls. AlsoEnergy has deployed systems at various international locations, but its primary customer base is in the United States, Germany and Canada. The total consideration for the AlsoEnergy acquisition was $652.0 million, comprised of $543.1 million paid in cash net of a working capital adjustment for an escrow recovery, and $108.9 million in the form of 8,621,006 shares of our common stock. We incurred $6.1 million of transaction costs related to the acquisition of AlsoEnergy, which were recorded in general and administrative expense during the year ended December 31, 2022. See Note 6 — Business Combinations, in the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Overview

Our mission is to maximize the economic, environmental, and resiliency value of energy assets through our leading AI platform. In order to fulfill our mission, we provide our customers, which include commercial and industrial (“C&I”) enterprises as well as independent power producers, renewable project developers, utilities and grid operators, with (i) an energy storage system, sourced from leading, global battery original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”), that we deliver through our partners, including developers, distributors, and engineering, procurement and construction firms, (ii) edge hardware to aid in the collection of site data and the real-time operation and control of the site plus other optional equipment, (iii) ongoing software platform and professional services to operate integrated energy storage, and solar systems, through our Athena® artificial intelligence (“AI”) platform (“Athena”), and (iv) solar asset performance monitoring and control, through Athena’s PowerTrack application. In addition, in all the markets where we help manage our customers’ clean energy assets, we have agreements to use the Athena platform to participate in such markets and to share the revenue from such market participation.

We operate in two key areas within the energy storage landscape: Behind-the-Meter (“BTM”) and Front-of-the-Meter (“FTM”). An energy system’s position in relation to a customer’s electric meter determines whether it is designated a BTM or

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FTM system. BTM systems provide power that can be used on-site without interacting with the electric grid and passing through an electric meter. Our software reduces C&I customer energy bills, increases their energy yield, and helps our customers facilitate the achievement of their corporate environmental, social, and corporate governance (“ESG”) objectives.

FTM, grid-connected systems provide power to off-site locations and must pass through an electric meter prior to reaching an end-user. Through Athena, our FTM storage systems decrease risk for project developers, lead asset professionals, independent power producers and investors by adapting to dynamic energy market conditions in connection with the deployment of electricity and improving the value of energy storage over the course of their FTM system’s lifetime. Through PowerTrack, our software maximizes FTM energy output and minimizes asset downtime.

Through our February 2022 acquisition of AlsoEnergy, we combined our storage optimization capabilities with solar asset performance monitoring and control software.

Since our inception in 2009, we have engaged in developing and marketing software-enabled services, raising capital, and recruiting personnel. We have incurred net operating losses and negative cash flows from operations each year since our inception. We have financed our operations primarily through proceeds received from the Merger, the issuance of convertible preferred stock, convertible senior notes, debt financing, and cash flows from customers.

Our total revenue grew from $127.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 to $363.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. For the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, we incurred net losses of $124.1 million and $101.2 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2022, we had an accumulated deficit of $632.1 million.

We expect that our sales and marketing, research and development, regulatory and other expenses will continue to increase as we expand our marketing efforts to increase sales of our solutions, expand existing relationships with our customers, and obtain regulatory clearances or approvals for future product enhancements. In addition, we expect our general and administrative costs and expenses to increase due to the additional costs associated with scaling our business operations as well as being a public company, including legal, accounting, insurance, exchange listing and SEC compliance, investor relations, and other costs and expenses.

Key Factors, Trends and Uncertainties Affecting our Business

We believe that our performance and future success depend on several factors that present significant opportunities for us but also pose risks and challenges, including but not limited to:

Decline in Lithium-Ion Battery Costs

Our revenue growth is directly tied to the continued adoption of energy storage systems by our customers. The cost of lithium-ion energy storage hardware has generally declined over the last decade, notwithstanding increases in recent months. The market for energy storage is rapidly evolving, and while we believe costs will continue to decline over time, there is no guarantee. If costs do not continue to decline, or do not decline as quickly as we anticipate, this could adversely affect our ability to increase our revenue and grow our business. The United States Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (the “IRA”) was signed into law on August 16, 2022 and includes incentives and tax credits aimed at reducing the effects of climate change, such as a tax credit for stand-alone battery storage projects. The implementation of the IRA is expected to further reduce the cost of battery storage systems for certain customers; however, there are numerous restrictions and requirements associated with qualifying for the tax credits and other incentives available under the IRA, and the Company continues to assess how the IRA may affect its business.

Increase in Deployment of Renewables

Deployment of intermittent resources has accelerated over the last decade, and today, wind and solar have become a low cost fuel source. We expect the cost of generating renewable energy to continue to decline and deployments of energy storage systems to increase. As renewable energy sources of energy production are expected to represent a larger proportion of energy generation, grid instability rises due to their intermittency, which can be addressed by energy storage solutions. The IRA is expected to further increase the deployment of renewable energy assets. We are continuing to evaluate the IRA and its requirements, as well as the application to our business and our customers.

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Competition

We are a market leader in terms of capacity of energy storage under management. We intend to strengthen our competitive position over time by leveraging the network effect of Athena’s AI infrastructure. Existing competitors may expand their product offerings and sales strategies, and new competitors may enter the market. Furthermore, our competitors include other types of software providers and some hardware manufacturers that offer software solutions. If our market share declines due to increased competition, our revenue and ability to generate profits in the future may be adversely affected.

Government Regulation and Compliance

Although we are not regulated as a utility, the market for our product and services is heavily influenced by federal, state, and local government statutes and regulations concerning electricity. These statutes and regulations, like the IRA, affect electricity pricing, net metering, incentives, taxation, competition with utilities, and the interconnection of customer-owned electricity generation. In the United States and internationally, governments continuously modify these statutes and regulations and acting through state utility or public service commissions, regularly change and adopt different rates for commercial customers. These changes can positively or negatively affect our ability to deliver cost savings to customers.

Supply Chain Constraints and Risk; COVID-19

We rely on a very small number of suppliers of energy storage systems and other equipment. If any of our suppliers were unable or unwilling to provide us with contracted quantities in a timely manner at prices, quality levels and volumes acceptable to us, we will have very limited alternatives for supply, and we may not be able find suitable replacements for our customers, if at all. Such an event could materially adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted and may continue to result in widespread adverse effects on the global and U.S. economies. Ongoing government and business responses to COVID-19, along with COVID-19 variants and the resurgence of related disruptions, could have a continued material adverse impact on economic and market conditions and amplify effects of a global and U.S. economic slowdown.

In addition, the global supply chain and our industry have experienced significant disruptions in recent periods. We have seen supply chain challenges and logistics constraints increase, including shortages of inverters, enclosures, battery modules and associated component parts for inverters and battery energy storage systems available for purchase. In certain cases, this has caused delays in critical equipment and inventory, longer lead times, and has resulted in cost volatility. These shortages and delays can be attributed in part to the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting government action, as well as broader macroeconomic conditions, such as labor shortages, rising inflation, rising interest rates, and a recessionary environment and geographical instability, including the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine and rising tensions between China and Taiwan. If these shortages and delays persist into 2023, they could adversely affect the timing of when battery energy storage systems can be delivered and installed, and when (or if) we can begin to generate revenue from those systems. In addition, we have experienced and are experiencing varying levels of volatility in costs of equipment and labor resulting in part from disruptions caused by general global economic conditions, including inflationary pressures and the COVID‐19 pandemic.

As the COVID-19 pandemic reaches endemic stages, the future impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, cash flows, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations remains highly dependent on future developments. Given the dynamic nature of these circumstances on our ongoing business, results of operations and overall financial performance, the future impact of COVID-19 and other macroeconomic factors, including the conflict in Ukraine, cannot be reasonably estimated at this time. In the event we are unable to mitigate the impact of delays or price volatility in energy storage systems, raw materials, and freight, it could materially adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.

DevCo Joint Ventures

From time to time, the Company, through an indirect wholly-owned development subsidiary, has entered into strategic joint ventures with qualified third parties to develop select energy storage power generation projects (“DevCo Projects”), as more fully described above under Note 1 — Business in the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. These projects require significant upfront investment by us and involve a high degree of risk. If a DevCo Project fails to reach completion or is significantly delayed, we could lose all or a portion of our development capital investment. See “We Face Risks Related to our DevCo Business Model” in Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” of this Annual Report on From 10-K for additional information about certain risks related to these DevCo Projects.

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Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to financial results determined in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), we use Adjusted EBITDA and non-GAAP gross margin, which are non-GAAP financial measures, for financial and operational decision making and as a means to evaluate our operating performance and prospects, develop internal budgets and financial goals, and to facilitate period-to-period comparisons. Our management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding our performance and liquidity by excluding certain expenses and expenditures that may not be indicative of our operating performance, such as stock-based compensation and other non-cash charges, as well as discrete cash charges that are infrequent in nature. We believe that both management and investors benefit from referring to these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing our performance and when planning, forecasting, and analyzing future periods. These non-GAAP financial measures also facilitate management’s internal comparisons to our historical performance and liquidity as well as comparisons to our competitors’ operating results. We believe these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to investors both because they (1) allow for greater transparency with respect to key metrics used by management in its financial and operational decision making and (2) are used by our institutional investors and the analyst community to help them analyze the health of our business. Adjusted EBITDA and non-GAAP gross margin should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, or superior to, other measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Non-GAAP Gross Margin

We define non-GAAP gross margin as gross margin excluding amortization of capitalized software and impairments related to decommissioning of end-of-life systems.

The following table provides a reconciliation of gross margin (GAAP) to non-GAAP gross margin ($ in millions, except for percentages):

Years Ended December 31,

GAAP Gross Margin 33.1 1.3

GAAP Gross Margin (%) 9 % 1 %

Adjustments to Gross Margin (1):

Amortization of capitalized software & developed technology 10.7 5.3

Non-GAAP Gross Margin $ 47.3 $ 11.2

Non-GAAP Gross Margin (%) 13 % 9 %

(1) Historically, management included a separate “Other Adjustments” caption in the table above as part of the adjustments to gross margin. Other Adjustments consisted of certain operating expenses including communication and cloud service expenditures reclassified to cost of revenue. Other Adjustments are no longer in the calculation of Non-GAAP Gross Margin and Non-GAAP Gross Margin %. Amounts reported for 2021 have been revised accordingly. We believe this change reflects a more accurate representation of our business for stakeholders to assess its performance.

Adjusted EBITDA

As discussed above, we believe that Adjusted EBITDA is useful for investors to use in comparing our financial performance with the performance of other companies. Nonetheless, the expenses and other items that we exclude in our calculation of Adjusted EBITDA may differ from the expenses and other items, if any, that other companies may exclude when calculating Adjusted EBITDA.

We calculate Adjusted EBITDA as net loss before depreciation and amortization, including amortization of internally developed software, net interest expense, further adjusted to exclude stock-based compensation and other income and expense items, including transaction and acquisition related charges, the change in fair value of warrants and embedded derivatives, vesting of warrants, loss on extinguishment of debt, litigation settlement and income tax provision or benefit. The expenses and other items that we exclude in our calculation of Adjusted EBITDA may differ from the expenses and other items, if any, that other companies may exclude when calculating Adjusted EBITDA.

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The following table provides a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net loss (in thousands):

Years Ended December 31,

(in thousands)

Adjusted to exclude the following:

Depreciation and amortization expense 48,783 29,098

Loss on extinguishment of debt — 5,064

Vesting of warrants — 9,183

Change in fair value of warrants and embedded derivatives — (3,424)

Transaction costs in connection with business combination 6,068 —

Litigation settlement (727) —

Benefit from (provision for) income taxes (15,161) —

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Financial Results and Key Metrics

The following table presents our financial results and our key metrics (in millions, except for percentages and unless otherwise noted):

Years Ended December 31,

(in millions)

Financial Results

GAAP Gross Margin $ 33.1 $ 1.3

GAAP Gross Margin (%) 9 % 1 %

Non-GAAP Gross Margin $ 47.3 $ 11.2

Non-GAAP Gross Margin (%) 13 % 9 %

Adjusted EBITDA $ (46.0) $ (30.3)

Key Operating Metrics

12-Month pipeline (in billions)* (1) $ 7.1 $ 4.0

Contracted storage AUM (in GWh)* (4) 2.5 1.6

Solar monitoring AUM (in GW)* (5) 25.0 **

* at period end

** not available

(1) As described below.

(2) As described below.

(4) Total GWh of systems in operation or under contract.

(5) Total GW of systems in operation or under contract.

Pipeline

Pipeline represents the total value (excluding market participation revenue) of uncontracted, potential hardware and software contracts that are currently being pursued by our direct salesforce and channel partners with developers and independent power producers seeking energy optimization services and transfer of energy storage systems that have a reasonable likelihood of execution within 12 months of the end of the relevant period based on project timelines published by such developers and independent power producers. We cannot guarantee that the pipeline will result in meaningful revenue or profitability.

Beginning with the first quarter of 2023, we will no longer report 12-month Pipeline as we believe that contracted backlog is a more efficient metric of near and medium term revenue.

Bookings

Due to the long-term nature of our contracts, bookings are a key metric that allows us to understand and evaluate the growth of our Company and our estimated future revenue related to customer contracts for our energy optimization services and transfer of energy storage systems. Bookings represents the accumulated value at a point in time of contracts that have been executed under both our host customer and partnership sales models.

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For host customer sales, bookings represent the expected consideration from energy optimization services contracts, including estimated incentive payments that are earned by the host customer from utility companies in relation to the services provided by us and assigned by the host customer to us. For host customer sales, there are no differences between bookings and remaining performance obligations at any point in time.

For partnership sales, bookings are the sum of the expected consideration to be received from the transfer of hardware and energy optimization services (excluding any potential revenues from market participation). For partnership sales, even though we have secured an executed contract with estimated timing of project delivery and installation from the customer, we do not consider it a contract in accordance with FASB ASU 2014-09 Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606)”, or a remaining performance obligation, until the customer has placed a binding purchase order. A signed customer contract is considered a booking as this indicates the customer has agreed to place a purchase order in the foreseeable future, which typically occurs within three months of contract execution. However, executed customer contracts, without binding purchase orders, are cancellable without penalty by either party.

For partnership sales, once a purchase order has been executed, the booking is considered to be a contract in accordance with ASC 606, and therefore, gives rise to a remaining performance obligation as we have an obligation to transfer hardware and energy optimization services in our partnership agreements. We also have the contractual right to receive consideration for our performance obligations.

The accounting policy and timing of revenue recognition for host customer contracts and partnership arrangements that qualify as contracts with customers under ASC 606, are described within Note 3- Revenue, in the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Components of Our Results of Operations

Revenue

We generate services and other revenue and hardware revenue. Services and other revenue is mainly generated through arrangements with host customers to provide energy optimization services using our proprietary software platform coupled with a dedicated energy storage system owned and controlled by us throughout the term of the contract. Fees charged to customers for energy optimization services generally consist of recurring fixed monthly payments throughout the term of the contract and in some arrangements, an installation and/or upfront fee component. We may also receive incentives from utility companies in relation to the sale of our services. Services and other revenue also includes the sale of project assets.

We generate hardware revenue through partnership arrangements consisting of promises to sell an energy storage system to solar plus storage project developers. Performance obligations are satisfied when the energy storage system along with all ancillary hardware components are delivered. The milestone payments received before the delivery of hardware are treated as deferred revenue. We separately generate services revenue through partnership arrangements by providing energy optimization services after the developer completes the installation of the project.

Cost of Revenue

Cost of services and other revenue includes depreciation of the cost of energy storage systems we own under long-term customer contracts, which includes capitalized fulfillment costs, such as installation services, permitting and other related costs. Cost of services and other revenue and other also includes the costs for the development and constructions of project assets. Cost of revenue may also include any impairment of inventory and energy storage systems, along with system maintenance costs associated with the ongoing services provided to customers. Costs of revenue are recognized as energy optimization and other supporting services are provided to our customers throughout the term of the contract.

Cost of hardware revenue generally includes the cost of the hardware purchased from a manufacturer, shipping, delivery, and other costs required to fulfill our obligation to deliver the energy storage system to the customer location. Cost of hardware revenue may also include any impairment of energy storage systems held in our inventory for sale to our customer. Cost of hardware revenue related to the sale of energy storage systems is recognized when the delivery of the product is completed.

Gross Margin

Our gross margin fluctuates significantly from quarter to quarter. Gross margin, calculated as revenue less costs of revenue, has been, and will continue to be, affected by various factors, including fluctuations in the amount and mix of revenue and the amount and timing of investments to expand our customer base. Over the long term, we hope to increase both our gross margin in absolute dollars and as a percentage of revenue through enhanced operational efficiency and economies of scale.

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Operating Expenses

Sales and Marketing

Sales and marketing expense consists of payroll and other related personnel costs, including salaries, stock-based compensation, employee benefits, and travel for our sales and marketing personnel. In addition, sales and marketing expense includes trade show costs, amortization of intangibles and other expenses. We expect our sales and marketing expense to increase in future periods to support the overall growth in our business.

Research and Development

Research and development expense consists primarily of payroll and other related personnel costs for engineers and third parties engaged in the design and development of products, third-party software and technologies, including salaries, bonuses and stock-based compensation expense, project material costs, services and depreciation. We expect research and development expense to increase in future periods to support our growth, including continuing to invest in optimization, accuracy and reliability of our platform and other technology improvements to support and drive efficiency in our operations. These expenses may vary from period to period as a percentage of revenue, depending primarily upon when we choose to make more significant investments.

General and Administrative Expense

General and administrative expense consists of payroll and other related personnel costs, including salaries, stock-based compensation, employee benefits and expenses for executive management, legal, finance and other costs. In addition, general and administrative expense includes fees for professional services and occupancy costs. We expect our general and administrative expense to increase in future periods as we scale up headcount with the growth of our business, and as a result of operating as a public company, including compliance with the rules and regulations of the SEC, legal, audit, additional insurance expenses, investor relations activities, and other administrative and professional services.

Other Income (Expense), Net

Interest Expense

Interest expense consists primarily of interest on our outstanding borrowings under our outstanding notes payable, convertible promissory notes, convertible senior notes, and financing obligations and accretion on our asset retirement obligations.

Loss on Extinguishment of Debt

Loss on extinguishment of debt consists of penalties incurred in relation to the prepayment of our outstanding borrowings under our outstanding notes payable and the write-off of any unamortized debt issuance costs associated with such notes.

Change in Fair Value of Warrants and Embedded Derivatives

Change in fair value of warrants and embedded derivatives is related to the revaluation of our outstanding convertible preferred stock warrant liabilities and embedded derivatives related to the redemption features associated with our convertible notes at each reporting date.

Other Expenses, Net

Other expenses, net consists primarily of income from equity investments and foreign exchange gains or losses.

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Results of Operations

Results of Operations for the Year Ended December 31, 2022 and 2021

Year Ended December 31, $ Change % Change

(In thousands, except percentages)

Revenue

Cost of revenue

Operating expenses

Other expense, net

Change in fair value of warrants and embedded derivatives — 3,424 (3,424) (100)%

Benefit from (provision for) income taxes 15,161 — 15,161 *

*Percentage is not meaningful

Revenue

Total revenue increased by $235.6 million, or 185%, for the year ended December 31, 2022, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2021. The change was primarily driven by a $203.9 million increase in hardware revenue primarily due to increase in demand for systems related to FTM partnership agreements and the inclusion of AlsoEnergy’s revenue in the current period. Services and other revenue increased by $31.7 million compared to the year ended December 31, 2021, primarily due to the inclusion of AlsoEnergy’s revenue in the current period.

Cost of Revenue

Cost of revenue increased by $203.8 million, or 162%, for the year ended December 31, 2022, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2021. The change was primarily driven by an increase of cost of hardware revenue of $188.8 million, which was due to the increase in demand for larger capacity systems, as well as an increase of $15.0 million in cost of services and other revenue, primarily related to AlsoEnergy.

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Operating Expenses

Sales and Marketing

Sales and marketing expense increased by $28.9 million, or 145%, for the year ended December 31, 2022, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2021. The increase was primarily due to an increase of $11.0 million in personnel related expenses as a result of higher headcount, inclusive of an additional $2.5 million in stock-based compensation expense, an increase of $12.9 million in amortization expense related to intangible assets from the acquisition of AlsoEnergy, an increase of $1.9 million amortization of contract origination costs, and an increase of $3.1 million of professional services and other expenses.

Research and Development

Research and development expense increased by $15.6 million, or 69%, for the year ended December 31, 2022, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2021. The increase was primarily due to an increase of $12.5 million in personnel related expenses as a result of increased headcount, inclusive of an additional $2.3 million in stock-based compensation expense, and an increase of $3.1 million in professional services and other expenses.

General and Administrative

General and administrative expense increased by $35.4 million, or 85%, for the year ended December 31, 2022, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2021. The increase was primarily driven by an increase of $20.8 million in personnel related expenses as a result of higher headcount, inclusive of an additional $10.3 million in stock-based compensation expense, as well as an increase of $14.6 million in professional services, insurance, office, and other expenses.

Other Expense, Net

Interest Expense

Interest expense decreased by $6.9 million, or 40%, for the year ended December 31, 2022, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2021. The decrease was primarily driven by lower interest expense of $6.2 million due the repayment of notes payable during 2021, as discussed in Note 12 —Notes Payable,in the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, lower interest expense of $2.1 million from financing obligations, and net accretion of discount on investments of $0.9 million. The decrease was partially offset by additional $2.2 million in interest expense from the issuance of the 2028 Convertible Notes in November 2021 and other interest of $0.1 million.

Loss on Extinguishment of Debt

Loss on extinguishment of debt decreased by $5.1 million, or 100% for the year ended December 31, 2022, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2021. The decrease was driven by a prior year payment of a $4.0 million penalty on debt extinguishment and the write-off of $1.1 million of unamortized debt issuance costs upon the conversion of our Series D convertible notes in relation to the Merger.

Change in Fair Value of Warrants and Embedded Derivative

The change in fair value of warrants and embedded derivative reflected no activity for the year ended December 31, 2022 (as no warrants and embedded derivatives were outstanding), compared to income of $3.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, which resulted from a revaluation gain of warrants and embedded derivatives.

Other Income (Expenses), Net

Other expenses, net increased by $1.5 million, or 164%, for the year ended December 31, 2022, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2021. The net increase was primarily as a result of an increase in interest income from short-term investments.

Income Tax Benefit

During the year ended December 31, 2022, we recorded $15.2 million of income tax benefit, as a result of the partial release of our deferred tax asset valuation due to the acquisition of AlsoEnergy. The Company did not record a provision or benefit for income taxes during the year ended December 31, 2021.

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A comparative discussion of our 2021 to 2020 results of operations can be found in Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Results of Operations” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 filed with the SEC on February 28, 2022.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Sources of Liquidity

Liquidity describes the ability of a company to generate sufficient cash flows to meet the cash requirements of its business operations, including working capital needs, debt service, acquisitions, contractual obligations and other commitments. We assess liquidity in terms of our cash flows from operations and their sufficiency to fund our operating and investing activities. To meet our payment service obligations, we must have sufficient liquid assets and be able to move funds on a timely basis.

As of December 31, 2022, our principal sources of liquidity were cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments of $250.0 million, which were held for working capital purposes and for investment growth opportunities. Our marketable securities generally consist of high-grade commercial paper, agency bonds, corporate debt securities, U.S. government agency securities, and treasury bills. We believe that our cash position is sufficient to meet our capital and liquidity requirements for at least the next 12 months from the date of this Form 10-K.

Our business prospects are subject to risks, expenses and uncertainties frequently encountered by companies in the early stages of commercial operations. The attainment of profitable operations is dependent upon future events, including obtaining adequate financing to complete our development activities, obtaining adequate supplier relationships, building our customer base, successfully executing our business and marketing strategy and hiring appropriate personnel. Failure to generate sufficient revenues, achieve planned gross margins and operating profitability, control operating costs, or secure additional funding may require us to modify, delay, or abandon some of our planned future expansion or development, or to otherwise enact operating cost reductions available to management, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, financial condition.

In the future, we may be required to obtain additional equity or debt financing in order to support our continued capital expenditures and operations. In the event that additional financing is required from outside sources, we may not be able to raise it on terms acceptable to us or at all. If we are unable to raise additional capital or generate cash flows necessary to expand our operations and invest in new technologies, this could reduce our ability to compete successfully and harm our business, growth and results of operations.

Our long-term liquidity requirements are linked primarily to the continued extension of the Athena platform and supporting applications, including Athena PowerTrack, and the use of our balance sheet to improve the terms and conditions associated with the purchase of energy storage systems from our hardware vendors. While we have plans to potentially expand our geographical footprint beyond our current partnerships and enter into joint ventures, those are not required initiatives to achieve our plans.

Financing Obligations

We have entered into arrangements wherein we finance the cost of energy storage systems via special purpose entities (“SPEs”) we establish with outside investors. These SPEs are not consolidated into our financial statements, but are accounted for as equity method investments. The investors provide us upfront payments through the SPEs. Under these arrangements, the payment by the SPE to us is accounted for as a borrowing by recording the proceeds received as a financing obligation. The financing obligation is repaid with the future customer payments and incentives received. A portion of the amounts paid to the SPE is allocated to interest expense using the effective interest rate method. Furthermore, we continue to account for the revenues from customer arrangements and incentives and all associated costs despite such systems being legally sold to the SPEs due to our significant continuing involvement in the operations of the energy storage systems. The total financing obligation as of December 31, 2022 was $79.6 million, of which $15.7 million was classified as a current liability.

Notes Payable

2021 Credit Agreement

In January 2021, we entered into a non-recourse credit agreement to provide a total of $2.7 million towards the financing of certain energy storage systems that we own and operate. The credit agreement has a stated interest of 5.45% and a maturity date of June 2031. We received an advance under the credit agreement of $1.8 million in January 2021. The repayment of advances received under this credit agreement is determined by the lender based on the proceeds generated by us through the operation of the underlying energy storage systems. We had $1.8 million of outstanding borrowings under this credit agreement as of December 31, 2022.

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2028 Green Convertible Senior Notes

On November 22, 2021, we sold to Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and Barclays Capital Inc, as initial purchasers (the “Initial Purchasers”), and the Initial Purchasers purchased from us, $460.0 million aggregate principal amount of our 0.50% Green Convertible Notes due 2028 (the “2028 Convertible Notes”), pursuant to a purchase agreement dated as of November 17, 2021, by and between us and the Initial Purchasers. The 2028 Convertible Notes will accrue interest payable semi-annually in arrears and will mature on December 1, 2028, unless earlier repurchased, redeemed or converted in accordance with their terms prior to such date. Upon conversion, we may choose to pay or deliver, as the case may be, cash, shares of common stock or a combination of cash and shares of common stock. The 2028 Convertible Notes are redeemable for cash at the Company’s option at any time given certain conditions. Refer to Note 13 —Convertible Promissory Notes, in the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

On November 17, 2021, in connection with the pricing of the 2028 Convertible Notes, and on November 19, 2021, in connection with the exercise in full by the Initial Purchasers of their option to purchase additional Notes, we entered into capped call transactions with certain of the Initial Purchasers of the 2028 Convertible Notes to minimize the potential dilution to the Company’s common stockholders upon conversion of the 2028 Convertible Notes. Our net proceeds from this offering were approximately $445.7 million, after deducting the Initial Purchasers’ discounts and commissions and the estimated offering expenses payable by the Company. We used approximately $66.7 million of the net proceeds to pay the cost of the capped call transactions described above. We intend to allocate an amount equivalent to the net proceeds from this offering to finance or refinance, in whole or in part, existing or new eligible green expenditures of Stem, including investments related to creating a more resilient clean energy system, optimized software capabilities for energy systems, and reducing waste through operations.

Cash Flows

The following table summarizes our cash flows for the periods indicated (in thousands):

Year Ended December 31,

Net cash used in operating activities $ (106,030) $ (101,266)

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities (9,272) 1,027,095

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents (202) 242

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents $ (659,877) $ 740,838

Operating Activities

During the year ended December 31, 2022, net cash used in operating activities was $106.0 million, primarily resulting from our net loss of $124.1 million, adjusted for non-cash charges of $70.3 million and net cash outflow of $52.3 million from changes in operating assets and liabilities. Non-cash charges primarily consisted of depreciation and amortization of $45.4 million, non-cash interest expense of $1.9 million related to debt issuance costs, stock-based compensation expense of $28.7 million, non-cash lease expense of $2.3 million, accretion of asset retirement obligations of $0.2 million, impairment of energy storage systems of $2.6 million, loss on disposal of property and equipment of $0.3 million, impairment loss of project assets of $0.5 million, provision for accounts receivable allowance of $3.6 million, which were partially offset by an income tax benefit of $15.1 million and net accretion of discount on investments of $0.1 million. The net cash outflow from changes in operating assets and liabilities was primarily driven by an increase in accounts receivable of $155.8 million, an increase in deferred costs with suppliers of $37.1 million, an increase in other assets of $29.4 million, an increase in contract origination costs of $9.6 million, an increase in project assets of $3.7 million, a decrease in lease liabilities, net of $1.6 million, partially offset by a decrease in inventory of $18.6 million, an increase in accounts payable of $53.3 million, an increase in accrued expenses of $62.2 million, and an increase in deferred revenue of $51.0 million.

During the year ended December 31, 2021, net cash used in operating activities was $101.3 million, primarily resulting from our operating loss of $101.2 million, adjusted for non-cash charges of $59.5 million and net cash outflow of $59.5 million from changes in operating assets and liabilities. Non-cash charges primarily consisted of depreciation and amortization of $24.5 million, non-cash interest expense of $9.6 million, which included interest expenses associated with debt issuance costs, stock-based compensation expense of $13.5 million, change in the fair value of warrant liability and embedded derivative of $3.4 million, impairment of energy storage systems of $4.3 million, issuance of warrants for services of $9.2 million, non-cash lease expense of $0.9 million, accretion of asset retirement obligations of $0.2 million, and net amortization of premium on

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investments of $0.7 million. The net cash outflow from changes in operating assets and liabilities was primarily driven by an increase in accounts receivable of $48.1 million, an increase in deferred costs with suppliers of $7.5 million, an increase in other assets of $17.2 million, a decrease in deferred revenue of $15.0 million, an increase in inventory of $1.9 million, an increase in contract origination costs of $2.6 million, a decrease in lease liabilities, net of $0.5 million, partially offset by an increase in accounts payable of $16.3 million and accrued expenses and other liabilities of $17.0 million.

Investing Activities

During the year ended December 31, 2022, net cash used in investing activities was $544.4 million, primarily consisting of $533.0 million used for our acquisition of AlsoEnergy, net of cash acquired, $2.6 million used for the purchase of energy systems, $16.8 million in capital expenditures on internally-developed software, and $1.5 million used for the purchase of property and equipment, partially offset by $9.6 million in net proceeds of available-for-sale investments.

During the year ended December 31, 2021, net cash used in investing activities was $185.2 million, primarily consisting of $189.9 million used for the purchase of available-for-sale investments, $3.6 million used for the purchase of energy systems, $5.9 million in capital expenditures on internally-developed software, $1.2 million used for the purchase of equity method investment, and $0.6 million used for the purchase of property plant and equipment, partially offset by $16.0 million in proceeds from the sale of available-for-sale investments.

Financing Activities

During the year ended December 31, 2022, net cash used in financing activities was $9.3 million, primarily consisting of repayment of financing obligations of $10.3 million and payments for taxes related to net share settlement of stock options of $2.3 million, partially offset by proceeds from exercise of stock options of $1.3 million, proceeds from other financing obligations of $1.5 million, and an investment from non-controlling interest of $0.5 million.

During the year ended December 31, 2021, net cash provided by financing activities was $1,027.1 million, primarily consisting of net proceeds from the Merger and PIPE financing of $550.3 million, proceeds from exercise of stock options and warrants of $148.5 million, proceeds from financing obligations of $7.8 million, proceeds from issuance of notes payable of $3.9 million, net proceeds from issuance of convertible promissory notes of $446.8 million, partially offset by purchased capped call options of $66.7 million, the repayment of notes payable of $41.4 million, payments for withholding taxes related to net share settlement of stock options of $12.6 million, and repayment of financing obligations of $9.6 million.

Contractual Obligations and Commitments

The contractual obligations presented in the table below represent our estimates of future payments under fixed contractual obligations and commitments. Changes in our business needs, cancellation provisions and changes in interest rates, as well as action by third parties and other factors, may cause these estimates to change. Therefore, our actual payments in future periods may vary from those presented in the table below. We generally expect to satisfy these commitments with cash on hand and cash provided by operating activities.

The following table summarizes our contractual obligations and commitments as of December 31, 2022 (in thousands).

Less than More than

Total 1 Year 1-3 Years 3-5 Years 5 Years

See Note 8 —Leases and Note 13 —Convertible Promissory Notes, in the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for more details.

We do not consider our financing obligations as contractual obligations, as our repayments of such obligations are required only to the extent payments are collected in relation to the operation of the underlying energy storage systems. The obligation is nonrecourse and there are no contractual commitments to pay specific amounts at any point in time throughout the life of the obligation.

We are not a party to any off-balance sheet arrangements, including guarantee contracts, retained or contingent interests, or unconsolidated variable interest entities that either have, or would reasonably be expected to have, a current or future material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

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Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Our discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations are based upon our consolidated financial statements. Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses. We base our estimates on past experience and other assumptions that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, and we evaluate these estimates on an ongoing basis. Actual results may differ from those estimates.

Our critical accounting policies are those that materially affect our consolidated financial statements and involve difficult, subjective or complex judgments by management. A thorough understanding of these critical accounting policies is essential when reviewing our consolidated financial statements. We believe that the critical accounting policies listed below involve the most difficult management decisions because they require the use of significant estimates and assumptions as described above.

Our significant accounting policies are described in Note 2 —Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, in the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We believe that the following critical accounting policies reflect the more significant estimates and assumptions used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements:

Revenue Recognition

We generate revenue through host customer arrangements, partnership arrangements, and sales of project assets. We apply judgment during the identification of a contract to determine the customer’s ability and intent to pay, which is based on a variety of factors, including the customer’s historical payment experience or, in the case of a new customer, credit and financial information pertaining to the customer.

For contracts that contain multiple performance obligations, we allocate the transaction price for each contract to each performance obligation based on the relative standalone selling price, or SSP for each performance obligation. We use judgment in determining the SSP for our products and services. We typically assess the SSP for our products and services on an annual basis or when facts and circumstances change. To determine SSP, we maximize the use of observable standalone sales and observable data, where available. In instances where performance obligations do not have observable standalone sales, we utilize available information that may include other observable inputs or use the expected cost-plus margin approach to estimate the price we would charge if the products and services were sold separately. The expected cost-plus margin approach is currently used to determine SSP for each distinct performance obligation for sale of hardware.

In some cases, the total transaction price is determined based on the total consideration specified in the contract, including variable consideration in the form of a performance guaranty payment that represents potential amounts payable to customers. The expected value method is generally used when estimating variable consideration, which typically reduces the total transaction price due to the nature of the performance obligations to which the variable consideration relates. These estimates reflect our historical experience and current contractual requirements which cap the maximum amount that may be paid. The expected value method requires judgment and considers multiple factors that may vary over time depending upon the unique facts and circumstances related to each performance obligation. Depending on the facts and circumstances, a change in variable consideration estimate will either be accounted for at the contract level or using the portfolio method.

Business Combinations

We account for our business combinations using the acquisition method of accounting, which requires, among other things, allocation of the fair value of purchase consideration to the tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed at their estimated fair values on the acquisition date. The excess of the fair value of purchase consideration over the values of these identifiable assets and liabilities is recorded as goodwill. When determining the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, we make estimates and assumptions, especially with respect to intangible assets. Our estimates of fair value are based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable, but which are inherently uncertain and unpredictable and, as a result, actual results may differ from estimates. During the measurement period, not to exceed one year from the date of acquisition, we may record adjustments to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, with a corresponding offset to goodwill if new information is obtained related to facts and circumstances that existed as of the acquisition date. After the measurement period, any subsequent adjustments are reflected in the consolidated statements of operations. Acquisition costs, such as legal and consulting fees, are expensed as incurred.

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Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Information with respect to recent accounting pronouncements may be found in Note 2 —Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, in the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8, "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Market risk represents the risk of loss that may impact our financial position because of adverse changes in financial market prices and rates. Our market risk exposure is primarily a result of exposure resulting from potential changes in inflation, exchange rates or interest rates. We do not hold financial instruments for trading purposes.

Foreign Currency Exchange Risk

Our expenses are generally denominated in U.S. dollars. However, we have foreign currency risks related to our revenue and operating expenses denominated in Canadian dollars. We have entered into contracts with customers and a limited number of supply contracts with vendors with payments denominated in foreign currencies. We are subject to foreign currency transaction gains or losses on our contracts denominated in foreign currencies. To date, foreign currency transaction gains and losses have not been material to our financial statements.

Unfavorable changes in foreign exchange rates versus the U.S. dollar could increase our product costs, thus reducing our gross profit. We have not engaged in the hedging of foreign currency transactions to date, although we may choose to do so in the future. We do not believe that an immediate 10% increase or decrease in the relative value of the U.S. dollar to other currencies would have a material effect on operating results or financial condition.

Interest Rate Risk

Interest rate risk is the risk that the value or yield of fixed-income investments may decline if interest rates change. Fluctuations in interest rates may impact the level of interest expense recorded on outstanding borrowings. In addition, our convertible promissory notes, 2028 Convertible Notes, notes payable, and financing obligations bear interest at a fixed rate and are not publicly traded. Therefore, fair value of our convertible promissory notes, notes payable, financing obligations and interest expense is not materially affected by changes in the market interest rates. We do not enter into derivative financial instruments, including interest rate swaps, for hedging or speculative purposes.

Credit Risk

We routinely assess the creditworthiness of our customers. We generally have not experienced any material losses related to receivables from individual customers, or groups of customers during the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021. We do not require collateral. Due to these factors, no additional credit risk beyond amounts provided for collection losses is believed by management to be probable in our accounts receivable.

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

STEM, INC.

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, and for Years Ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020

Page

Index to Audited Consolidated Financial Statements

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID No. 34) 54

Financial Statements:

Consolidated Balance Sheets 58

Consolidated Statements of Operations 59

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss 60

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit) 61

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows 62

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 64

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Stem, Inc.

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Stem, Inc. and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive loss, stockholders’ equity (deficit), and cash flows, for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2022, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the "financial statements"). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2022, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated February 16, 2023, expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

As described in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting, management excluded from its assessment the internal control over financial reporting at Also Energy Holdings, Inc., which was acquired on February 1, 2022, because the Company is in the process of evaluating the existing controls and procedures of Also Energy Holdings, Inc. and integrating Also Energy Holdings, Inc. into its internal control over financial reporting. Also Energy Holdings, Inc. constitutes 3% of total assets and 16% of revenues of the consolidated financial statement amounts as of and for the year ended December 31, 2022. Accordingly, our audit did not include the internal control over financial reporting at Also Energy Holdings, Inc.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Critical Audit Matters

The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current-period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.

Business Combinations — Trade Names, Customer Relationships and Developed Technology — Refer to Notes 2 and 6 to the financial statements

Critical Audit Matter Description

On February 1, 2022, the Company acquired 100% of the outstanding shares of Also Energy Holdings, Inc. (“AlsoEnergy”). The total consideration to acquire AlsoEnergy was $652.0 million, comprised of $543.1 million in cash, net of a working capital adjustment, and $108.9 million in the form of 8,621,006 shares of the Company’s common stock. The Company incurred $6.1 million of transaction costs related to the acquisition. The Company accounted for the acquisition as a business

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combination in which the Company determined that AlsoEnergy was a business. The total consideration was allocated to fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, and the Company recognized $545.0 million of goodwill from the acquisition, which represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net identifiable assets acquired.

Included in the net identifiable assets acquired were trade names, customer relationships, and developed technology, for which the Company measured the fair value as of the acquisition date of $11.3 million, $106.8 million, and $30.1 million, respectively. The fair value of trade names was measured using the relief-from-royalty method, the fair value of customer relationships was measured using the multiple-period excess earnings method under the income approach, and the fair value of developed technology was measured using the relief-from-royalty method of the income approach. The acquired intangible assets will be amortized on a straight-line basis over their respective estimated useful lives.

We identified the fair value measurements of the acquired trade names, customer relationships, and developed technology as a critical audit matter because of the significant estimates and assumptions related to the Company’s forecasts of future revenues and selection of the weighted average cost of capital, royalty rates, and estimated revenue growth rates in measuring the fair value of these assets. This required a high degree of auditor judgment and an increased extent of effort, including the need to involve our fair value specialists, when performing audit procedures to evaluate the reasonableness of the Company’s forecasts of future revenues and selection of the weighted average cost of capital, royalty rates, and estimated revenue growth rates used to measure the fair value of the acquired trade names, customer relationships, and developed technology.

How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit

Our audit procedures related to the fair value measurements of the acquired trade names, customer relationships, and developed technology included the following, among others:

•We tested the effectiveness of controls over the estimation process supporting the fair value estimates of the acquired trade names, customer relationships, and developed technology, including management’s controls over the selection of the weighted average cost of capital, royalty rates, and estimated revenue growth rates used.

•With the assistance of our fair value specialists, we evaluated the reasonableness of the valuation methodology and the weighted average cost of capital and royalty rates used to measure the fair value of the acquired trade names, customer relationships, and developed technology.

•We evaluated the reasonableness of the Company’s forecasts of future revenues and estimated revenue growth rates by comparing them to current industry reports, as well as to the historical performance of the acquired business and a similar business segment of the Company.

•We tested the source information underlying the fair value measurements of the acquired trade names, customer relationships, and developed technology and the mathematical accuracy of management’s calculations.

•We evaluated the sufficiency of the disclosures related to the fair value measurements of the acquired trade names, customer relationships, and developed technology in the financial statements.

Business – Development subsidiary and strategic joint ventures — Refer to Notes 1 and 2 to the financial statements

Critical Audit Matter Description

In January 2022, the Company formed an indirect wholly-owned development subsidiary (“DevCo”) to enter into strategic joint ventures (each a “DevCo JV”) as a majority owner, with one or more qualified third parties as the minority owner, for the development of select renewable energy projects (“DevCo Projects”). The Company makes development capital contributions to DevCo Projects to fund project development and recovers those capital contributions plus a fee when the developer takes ownership of the project. The purpose of the DevCo JV is to develop and sell DevCo Projects, and secure Company hardware and software services for those projects.

In accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, the DevCo JVs are determined to be variable interest entities (“VIEs”) as they lack sufficient equity to finance their activities without additional financial support, and the Company is deemed to be the primary beneficiary for these VIEs as it has both (1) the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance, and (2) the obligation to absorb losses or receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant. Accordingly, the DevCo JVs’ operating results, assets and liabilities are consolidated by the Company, with third party minority owners’ share presented as noncontrolling interest. The DevCo JVs’ net income (loss) are allocated to the owners using the hypothetical liquidation at book value method at the end of each reporting period. As of December 31, 2022, the Company consolidated $9.5 million of DevCo JV net assets.

We identified the Company’s accounting for the DevCo JVs as a critical audit matter because of the complexity of the joint venture agreements, and the significant judgment used by management in the determination of (1) whether the DevCo JV is a

55

VIE, and (2) the owner who would be considered the primary beneficiary of these VIEs in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. This required a high degree of auditor judgment and an increased extent of effort, including the need to involve professionals with expertise in accounting for VIEs when performing audit procedures to evaluate management’s accounting for the DevCo JVs.

How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit

Our audit procedures related to the accounting for the DevCo JVs included the following, among others:

•We tested the effectiveness of controls over the technical accounting assessment of DevCo JV operating agreements, including management’s review of the significant assumptions.

•We evaluated the reasonableness of management’s accounting for the DevCo JVs in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States by:

–Obtaining and evaluating the Company’s accounting memoranda and other documentation regarding the application of the relevant accounting guidance to the DevCo JVs.

–Obtaining, reading, and comparing the underlying terms and conditions of the relevant agreements to the Company’s accounting memoranda and other documentation.

–Evaluating the Company’s conclusions regarding the accounting treatment applied to the DevCo JVs, with the assistance of professionals with expertise in accounting for VIEs.

•We evaluated the sufficiency of the disclosures related to the accounting for the DevCo JVs in the financial statements.

Revenue – Partnership Arrangements — Refer to Notes 2 and 3 to the financial statements

Critical Audit Matter Description

Partnership arrangements consist of promises to transfer inventory in the form of an energy storage system to a project developer and to separately provide energy optimization services to the ultimate owner of the project after the developer completes the installation of the project. Under partnership arrangements, the Company’s customer is the project developer. The Company determined the promise to deliver the inventory as a component of the project for which the customer is responsible to develop is a separate and distinct performance obligation from the promise to provide energy optimization services. The Company allocates revenue between the hardware and energy storage services performance obligations based on the standalone selling price of each performance obligation. The standalone selling price for the hardware is established based on observable pricing. The standalone selling price for the energy optimization services is established using a residual value approach due to the significant variability in the services provided to each individual customer based on the specific requirements of each individual project and the lack of observable standalone sales of such services.

The Company transfers control of the inventory upon delivery and simultaneous transfer of title to the customer. The Company transfers control of its energy optimization services to its customers continuously throughout the term of the contract (a stand-ready obligation), which does not commence until the customer successfully completes the installation of the project. As a result, the time frame between when the Company transfers control of the inventory to the customer upon delivery is generally several months, and can be in excess of one year, before the Company is required to perform any subsequent energy optimization services. Revenue is recognized ratably as control of these services is transferred to its customers based on a time-based output measure of progress of days elapsed over the term of the contract, in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for its services. For the year ended December 31, 2022, the partnership hardware and service revenue recognized was $280.4 million.

Given management’s judgments to determine allocation of revenue between hardware and energy storage services performance obligations based on the standalone selling price of each performance obligation, auditing the judgments and estimates made in allocating revenue involved a high degree of auditor judgment and an increased extent of audit effort.

How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit

Our audit procedures related to partnership hardware and service revenue included the following, among others:

•We tested the effectiveness of the controls relevant to the revenue process.

•For partnership arrangements, we selected a sample of contracts with customers and performed the following procedures:

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–Obtained and read the contracts and contract amendments, if any, and tested management’s identification of significant terms and conditions.

–Tested management’s identification of distinct performance obligations by evaluating whether the underlying goods, services, or both were highly interdependent and interrelated.

–Tested the allocation of the transaction price to each distinct performance obligation by comparing the relative standalone selling prices to the selling prices of similar goods or services.

–Evaluated management’s estimate of standalone selling prices for reasonableness.

–Evaluated the timing of revenue recognition for each performance obligation through obtaining signed proof of delivery documents.

–Tested the mathematical accuracy of management’s calculation of revenue recognized in the financial statements.

•We evaluated the sufficiency of the disclosures related to revenue from Partnership Arrangements in the financial statements.

/s/DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

San Francisco, California

February 16, 2023

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2018.

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STEM, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

ASSETS

Current assets:

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Current liabilities:

Financing obligation, current portion 15,720 15,277

Deferred revenue, current portion 64,311 9,158

Other liabilities 362 —

Commitments and contingencies (Note 20)

Stockholders’ equity:

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income (1,672) 20

Non-controlling interests 541 —

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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STEM, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

Years Ended December 31,

Revenue

Cost of revenue

Operating expenses

Other expense, net

Loss on extinguishment of debt — (5,064) —

Change in fair value of warrants and embedded derivatives — 3,424 (84,455)

Benefit from (provision for) income taxes 15,161 — (5)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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STEM, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

(in thousands)

Years Ended December 31,

Other comprehensive loss:

Unrealized loss on available-for-sale securities (1,507) (175) —

Foreign currency translation adjustment (185) 387 (246)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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STEM, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)

(in thousands, except share amounts)

Shares Amount

Cancellation of exchange transaction by shareholder 184,520 — — — — — —

Issuance of warrants to purchase common stock — — 168 — — — 168

Stock-based compensation — — 4,542 — — — 4,542

Foreign currency translation adjustments — — — (246) — — (246)

Issuance of common stock warrants for services (Note 14) — — 9,183 — — — 9,183

Purchase of capped call options (Note 13) — — (66,700) — — — (66,700)

Unrealized loss on available-for-sale securities — — — (175) — — (175)

Foreign currency translation gain — — — 387 — — 387

Shares issued for exercise of warrants 21,101 — 150 — — — 150

Unrealized loss on available-for-sale securities — — — (1,507) — — (1,507)

Foreign currency translation adjustments — — — (185) — — (185)

Contributions from non-controlling interests — — — — — 541 541

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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STEM, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

Years Ended December 31,

OPERATING ACTIVITIES

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:

Accretion of asset retirement obligations 243 229 217

Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment 276 — —

Impairment loss of project assets 502 — —

Issuance of warrants for services — 9,183 —

Net (accretion of discount) amortization of premium on investments (123) 664 —

Income tax benefit from release of valuation allowance (15,100) — —

Provision for accounts receivable allowance 3,590 — —

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

Project assets (3,711) — —

Operating lease liabilities, net (1,649) (502) (646)

INVESTING ACTIVITIES

Acquisition of AlsoEnergy, net of cash acquired (533,009) — —

Purchase of available-for-sale investments (220,640) (189,858) —

Proceeds from maturities of available-for-sale investments 219,264 — —

Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale investments 10,930 16,011 —

Capital expenditures on internally-developed software (16,767) (5,970) (5,828)

Purchase of equity method investment (50) (1,212) —

Purchase of property and equipment (1,495) (600) (12)

FINANCING ACTIVITIES

Proceeds from exercise of stock options and warrants 1,276 148,532 422

Purchase of capped call options — (66,700) —

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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Investment from non-controlling interests 541 — —

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents (202) 242 (534)

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION

Cash paid for income taxes $ 285 $ — $ 2

NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES

Exchange of warrants for common stock $ — $ 168,647 $ —

Conversion of warrants upon Merger $ — $ 60,568 $ —

Conversion of convertible notes upon Merger $ — $ 77,748 $ —

Conversion of accrued interest into outstanding note payable $ — $ 337 $ 644

Right-of-use asset obtained in exchange for lease liability $ 428 $ 13,337 $ —

Issuance of common stock warrants $ — $ — $ 168

Purchase of energy storage systems in accounts payable $ 172 $ — $ 1,806

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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1. BUSINESS

Description of the Business

Stem, Inc., together with its consolidated subsidiaries (“Stem,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), maintains one of the world’s largest digitally connected, intelligent renewable energy networks, providing customers (i) with an energy storage system, sourced from leading, global battery original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”), that the Company delivers through its partners, including developers, distributors, and engineering, procurement and construction firms, (ii) edge hardware to aid in the collection of site data and the real-time operation and control of the site plus other optional equipment, (iii) ongoing software platform and professional services to operate integrated energy storage, and solar systems, through its Athena® artificial intelligence (“AI”) platform (“Athena”), and (iv) solar asset performance monitoring and control, through Athena’s PowerTrack application. In addition, in all the markets where the Company helps manage its customers’ clean energy assets, the Company has agreements to use the Athena platform to participate in such markets and to share the revenue from such market participation.

The Company delivers its battery hardware and software-enabled services through its Athena platform to its customers. The Company’s hardware and recurring software-enabled services mitigate customer energy costs through services such as time-of-use and demand charge management optimization and by aggregating the dispatch of energy through a network of virtual power plants. The resulting network created by the Company’s growing customer base increases grid resilience and reliability through the real-time processing of market-based demand signals, energy prices and other factors in connection with the deployment of renewable energy resources to such customers. Additionally, the Company’s energy storage solutions support renewable energy generation by alleviating grid intermittency issues, thereby reducing customer dependence on traditional, fossil fuel resources.

The Company’s Athena PowerTrack application provides a vertically integrated solution that incorporates on-site power monitoring equipment that aggregates and communicates data to enable remote control of solar generation assets. PowerTrack provides direct access to individual site performance to measure and benchmark expected energy production, maximizing asset value for Stem’s customers.

From time to time, the Company, through an indirect wholly-owned development subsidiary (“DevCo”) formed in January 2022, will enter into strategic joint ventures (each a “DevCo JV”) with qualified third parties for the development of select renewable energy projects (“DevCo Projects”). Using this structure, DevCo forms a new DevCo JV entity as the majority owner, with the developer as the minority owner. The purpose of the DevCo JV is to develop and sell DevCo Projects and secure Company hardware and software services for those projects. In DevCo Projects, the Company makes development capital contributions to fund project development, and recovers those capital contributions plus a fee when the developer takes ownership of the project. The Company will in some cases also elect to make cash advances to hardware suppliers to accelerate project construction timelines given long lead times to secure hardware. This business model is intended to allow the Company to advance development capital to key partners in strategic markets and securing hardware upfront, in order to generate higher-margin software and services and other revenue via exclusive long-term services contracts under the DevCo Projects.

On February 1, 2022, the Company acquired all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Also Energy Holdings, Inc. (“AlsoEnergy”), which has been consolidated since the date of acquisition. Through AlsoEnergy, the Company provides end-to-end turnkey solutions that monitor and manage renewable energy systems through its PowerTrack software. PowerTrack includes data acquisitions and monitoring, performance modeling, agency reporting, internal reports, work order tickets, and supervisory control and data acquisition (“SCADA”) controls. AlsoEnergy has deployed systems at various international locations, but its largest customer bases are in the United States, Germany and Canada. See Note 6 —Business Combinations.

The Company operated as Rollins Road Acquisition Company (f/k/a Stem, Inc.) (“Legacy Stem”) prior to the Merger (as defined below). Stem, Inc. was incorporated on March 16, 2009 in the State of Delaware and is headquartered in San Francisco, California.

Star Peak Acquisition Corp. Merger

On December 3, 2020, the Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with Star Peak Transition Corp. (“STPK”), an entity that was then listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the trade symbol “STPK”, and STPK Merger Sub Corp., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of STPK (“Merger Sub”), providing for, among other things, and subject to the conditions therein, the combination of the Company and STPK pursuant to the merger of Merger Sub with and into the Company with the Company continuing as the surviving entity (the “Merger”).

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On April 28, 2021, shareholders of STPK approved the Merger, under which Stem received approximately $550.3 million, net of fees and expenses as follows (in thousands):

Recapitalization

Cash — STPK trust and working capital cash $ 383,383

Cash — PIPE (as described below) 225,000

Less: transaction costs and advisory fees paid (58,061)

Merger and PIPE financing $ 550,322

Immediately prior to the closing of the Merger, (i) all issued and outstanding shares of Legacy Stem preferred stock, par value $0.00001 per share (the “Legacy Stem Preferred Stock”), were converted into shares of Legacy Stem common stock, par value $0.000001 per share (the “Legacy Stem Common Stock”) in accordance with Legacy Stem’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation, (ii) all outstanding convertible promissory notes of Legacy Stem (the “Legacy Stem Convertible Notes”) were converted into Legacy Stem Preferred Stock in accordance with the terms of the Legacy Stem Convertible Notes and (iii) certain warrants issued by Legacy Stem to purchase Legacy Stem Common Stock and Legacy Stem Preferred Stock (the “Legacy Stem Warrants”) were exercised by holders into Legacy Stem Common Stock in accordance with the terms thereof. Upon the consummation of the Merger, each share of Legacy Stem common stock then issued and outstanding was canceled and converted into the right to receive shares of common stock of Stem using an exchange ratio of 4.6432.

In connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, STPK entered into separate subscription agreements (each, a “Subscription Agreement”) with a number of investors (each a “Subscriber”), pursuant to which the Subscribers agreed to purchase, and STPK agreed to sell to the Subscribers, an aggregate of 22,500,000 shares of common stock (the “PIPE Shares”), for a purchase price of $10 per share and an aggregate purchase price of $225.0 million, in a private placement pursuant to the subscription agreements (the “PIPE”). The PIPE investment closed simultaneously with the consummation of the Merger. The Merger was accounted for as a reverse recapitalization in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Under this method of accounting, STPK was treated as the “acquired” company for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, for accounting purposes, the Merger was treated as the equivalent of Stem issuing stock for the net assets of STPK, accompanied by a recapitalization. The net liabilities of STPK of $302.2 million, comprised primarily of the warrant liabilities associated with the Public and Private Placement Warrants discussed in Note 14 —Warrants, are stated at historical cost, with no goodwill or other intangible assets recorded.

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Liquidity

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP and with the instructions to Form 10-K and Regulation S-X, assuming the Company will continue as a going concern. As of December 31, 2022, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $87.9 million, short-term investments of $162.1 million, an accumulated deficit of $632.1 million and net working capital of $265.8 million, with $15.7 million of financing obligations coming due within the next 12 months. During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company incurred a net loss of $124.1 million and had negative cash flows from operating activities of $106.0 million. However, the net proceeds from the Merger of $550.3 million, the proceeds of $145.3 million from the exercise of Public Warrants (as described in Note 14 —Warrants), and the net proceeds of $445.7 million from the issuance of the Company’s 0.50% Green Convertible Senior Notes due 2028 (the “2028 Convertible Notes”) (as described in Note 13 —Convertible Promissory Notes) provided the Company with a significant amount of cash proceeds. As discussed in Note 6 —Business Combinations, the Company completed the acquisition of 100% of the outstanding shares of AlsoEnergy for an aggregate purchase price of $652.0 million, which consisted of $543.1 million in cash, net of a working capital adjustment for an escrow recovery and $108.9 million in common stock. The Company believes that its cash position is sufficient to meet capital and liquidity requirements for at least the next 12 months after the date that the financial statements are available to be issued.

The Company’s business prospects are subject to risks, expenses, and uncertainties frequently encountered by companies in the early stages of commercial operations. The attainment of profitable operations is dependent upon future events, including securing new customers and maintaining current ones, securing and maintaining adequate supplier relationships, building its customer base, successfully executing its business and marketing strategy, obtaining adequate financing to complete the Company’s development activities, and hiring and retaining appropriate personnel. Failure to generate sufficient revenues, achieve planned gross margins and operating profitability, control operating costs, or secure additional funding may require the Company to modify, delay or abandon some of its planned future expansion or development, or to otherwise enact operating cost reductions available to management, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, operating results and financial condition.

Supply Chain Constraints and Risk

The Company’s industry continues to face shortages and shipping delays affecting the supply of inverters, enclosures, battery modules and associated component parts for inverters and battery energy storage systems available for purchase. These shortages and delays can be attributed in part to the pandemic and resulting government action, as well as broader macroeconomic conditions that may persist once the immediate effects of the pandemic have subsided, and have been exacerbated by the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. If these shortages and delays persist into 2023, they could adversely affect the timing of when battery energy storage systems can be delivered and installed, and when (or if) the Company can begin to generate revenue from those systems. The Company cannot predict the full effects the pandemic will have on our business, cash flows, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations at this time due to numerous uncertainties. The Company will continue to monitor developments affecting its workforce, its suppliers, its customers and its business operations generally, and will take actions the Company determines are necessary in order to mitigate these.

2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation

The Company's consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Reclassifications

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified for consistency with the current year presentation. Such reclassifications have no impact on previously reported net loss, stockholders' equity (deficit), or cash flows. For the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, $7.5 million and $2.6 million in net cash outflows were reclassified from Other assets to Deferred costs with suppliers in the consolidated statement of cash flows, respectively. This change had no impact to net cash used in operating activities.

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Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, its wholly-owned subsidiaries, and consolidated variable interest entities (“VIEs”). The Company presents non-controlling interests within the equity section of its consolidated balance sheets, and the amount of consolidated net loss that is attributable to Stem and the non-controlling interest in its condensed consolidated statements of operations. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Variable Interest Entities

The Company forms special purpose entities (“SPEs”), some of which are VIEs, with its investors in the ordinary course of business to facilitate the funding and monetization of its energy storage systems. A legal entity is considered a VIE if it has either a total equity investment that is insufficient to finance its operations without additional subordinated financial support or whose equity holders lack the characteristics of a controlling financial interest. The Company’s variable interests arise from contractual, ownership, or other monetary interests in the entity. The typical condition for a controlling financial interest ownership is holding a majority of the voting interests of an entity; however, a controlling financial interest may also exist in entities, such as VIEs, through arrangements that do not involve controlling voting interests.

The Company consolidates a VIE if it is deemed to be the primary beneficiary. The Company determines it is the primary beneficiary if it has the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the VIEs’ economic performance and has the obligation to absorb losses or has the right to receive benefits of the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. The Company evaluates its relationships with its VIEs on an ongoing basis to determine whether it is the primary beneficiary.

Beginning in January 2022, the Company formed DevCo JVs with the purpose of originating potential battery storage facility projects in specific locations and conducting early-stage planning and development activities. The Company determined that the DevCo JVs are VIEs as they lack sufficient equity to finance their activities without additional financial support. The Company determined that it has both (1) the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance, and (2) the obligation to absorb losses or receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant. Accordingly, the Company has determined that it is the primary beneficiary of the DevCo JVs, and as a result, the DevCo JVs’ operating results, assets and liabilities are consolidated by the Company, with third party minority owners’ share presented as noncontrolling interest. The Company applied the hypothetical liquidation at book value method in allocating recorded net income (loss) to each owner based on the change in the reporting period, of the amount of net assets of the entity to which each owner would be entitled to under the governing contracts in a liquidation scenario.

The following table summarizes the carrying values of the assets and liabilities of the DevCo JVs that are consolidated by the Company as of December 31, 2022 (in thousands):

Assets

Cash and cash equivalents $ 6,686

Other current assets 38

Other noncurrent assets 3,208

Liabilities

Accounts payable 356

Other current liabilities 97

Total liabilities $ 453

For the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company contributed approximately $7.8 million in capital investments for hardware purchases. The net income from the DevCo JVs during the year ended December 31, 2022 was $1.1 million.

Equity Method Investments

The Company has ownership interests in SPEs which it does not control. Where the Company holds an interest in these SPEs of greater than 20% and has the ability to exercise significant influence, the Company uses the equity method to account for its investments in these SPEs. Under the equity method of accounting, investments are stated at initial cost and are adjusted for subsequent additional investments and the Company’s proportionate share of earnings or losses and distributions. Such proportionate share of earnings or losses is included within other expenses, net in the consolidated statements of operations. The Company considers whether its equity method investments are impaired when events or circumstances suggest that the carrying

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amount may not be recoverable. An impairment charge is recognized in the consolidated statements of operations for a decline in value that is determined to be other-than-temporary. In determining if and when a decline in the fair value of these investments below their carrying value is other-than-temporary, the Company evaluates the market condition, trends of earnings and cash flows and other key measures of performance and recognizes such loss which is deemed to be other-than-temporary. No such losses have been recognized during the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions believed to be reasonable. Actual results could differ from those estimates and such differences could be material to the financial position and results of operations.

Significant estimates and assumptions reflected in these consolidated financial statements include, but are not limited to, depreciable life of energy systems; the amortization of acquired intangibles; the amortization of financing obligations; deferred commissions and contract fulfillment costs; the valuation of energy storage systems, internally developed software, and asset retirement obligations; and the fair value of equity instruments, equity-based instruments, debt, warrant liabilities, embedded derivatives, and the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination.

Segment Information

Operating segments are defined as components of an entity for which discrete financial information is available that is regularly reviewed by the Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”) in deciding how to allocate resources to an individual segment and in assessing performance. The Company’s Chief Executive Officer is the CODM. The CODM reviews financial information presented on a consolidated basis for purposes of making operating decisions, allocating resources, and evaluating financial performance. As such, management has determined that the Company operates as one operating segment that is focused exclusively on innovative technology services that transform the way energy is distributed and consumed. The operations acquired as part of the acquisition of AlsoEnergy have been included in the Company’s operating segment. Net assets outside of the U.S. were less than 10% of total net assets as of December 31, 2022 and 2021.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity date of three months or less at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents are maintained at financial institutions. The Company maintains all cash in a highly liquid form to meet current obligations.

Short-Term Investments

Investments with a maturity date greater than three months that the Company intends to convert to cash or cash equivalents within a year or less are classified as short-term investments in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. Additionally, in accordance with ASC 320, Investments - Debt Securities, the Company has classified all short-term investments as available-for-sale securities and changes in fair market value are reported in other comprehensive loss.

The Company utilizes its short-term investments as an alternative form of cash and, if the cash needs arise, could liquidate the investments at any point in time regardless of the contractual maturity of the investments. All of the Company’s investments are tradable on an active market and could be sold at fair value at any point in time.

Accounts Receivable, Net

Accounts Receivable are stated at amounts estimated by management to be equal to their net realizable values. Accounts receivable also includes unbilled accounts receivable, which is composed of milestone development activities of noncancellable purchase orders and monthly energy optimization services provided and recognized but not yet invoiced as of the end of the reporting period. The allowance for doubtful accounts is the Company's best estimate of the amount of expected credit losses. The expectation of collectability is based on the Company's review of credit profiles of customers, contractual terms and conditions, current economic trends, and historical payment experience. If events or changes in circumstances indicate that specific receivable balances may be impaired, further consideration is given to the collectability of those balances and an allowance is recorded accordingly. The allowance for doubtful accounts balance was $3.9 million and $0.1 million as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

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Concentrations of Credit Risk and Other Uncertainties

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentration of credit risk consist of cash and cash equivalents and accounts receivable. The Company’s cash balances are primarily invested in money market funds or on deposit at high credit quality financial institutions in the U.S. The Company’s cash and cash equivalents are held at financial institutions where account balances may at times exceed federally insured limits. Management believes the Company is not exposed to significant credit risk due to the financial strength of the depository institution in which the cash is held. The Company has no financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk of loss.

At times, the Company may be subject to a concentration of credit risk in relation to certain customers due to the purchase of large energy storage systems made by such customers. The Company routinely assesses the creditworthiness of its customers. The Company has not experienced any material losses related to receivables from individual customers, or groups of customers during the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020. The Company does not require collateral. Due to these factors, no additional credit risk beyond amounts provided for collection losses is believed by management to be probable in the Company’s accounts receivable.

Significant Customers

A significant customer represents 10% or more of the Company’s total revenue or accounts receivable, net balance at each reporting date.For each significant customer, revenue as a percentage of total revenue and accounts receivable as a percentage of total accounts receivable are as follows:

Accounts Receivable Revenue

December 31, Year Ended December 31,

Customers:

Customer A * 23 % * 11 % *

Customer D 54 % * 46 % * *

Customer E 16 % * 10 % * *

Customer F 11 % * * * *

*Total less than 10% for the respective period

There are inherent risks whenever a large percentage of total revenue is concentrated in a limited number of customers. Should a significant customer: terminate or fail to renew its contracts with the Company, in whole or in part, for any reason, or experience significant financial or operating difficulties, it could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations. In general, a customer that makes up a significant portion of revenues in one period, may not make up a significant portion in subsequent periods.

Prepaid warranty

Prepaid warranties are cash advances to suppliers for warranties on batteries. Such prepayments are amortized over five to fifteen years, based on the warranty period, starting when the battery becomes operational.

Inventory

Inventory consists of batteries, hardware and equipment either in-process at the Company’s OEM suppliers or as a finished product at the Company’s warehouse, which are sold and delivered directly to customers under the Company’s partnership arrangements as individual assets or assembled systems. Battery inventory is stated at lower of cost or net realizable value with cost being determined by the specific identification method. Solar hardware and equipment cost is determined by the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method. The Company periodically reviews its inventory for potentially slow-moving or obsolete items and writes down specific items in inventory to net realizable value based on its assessment of market conditions.

Deferred Costs with Suppliers

Deferred costs with suppliers are payments to suppliers for materials that have not been delivered to the Company and are recognized upon receipt of an invoice from the supplier.

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Energy Storage Systems, Net

The Company sells energy optimization services to host customers through the use of energy storage systems installed at customer locations. The Company determined that it does not transfer control of these energy storage systems to the customer, which are operated and controlled via the Company’s proprietary software platform; therefore, these energy storage systems do not qualify as a leased asset. The energy storage systems are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation and impairment (as applicable).

Energy storage systems, net is comprised of equipment costs, which include components such as batteries, inverters, and other electrical equipment, and associated design, installation, and interconnection costs required to begin providing the energy optimization services to customers.

Depreciation of the energy storage systems is a component of cost of revenues within the consolidated statements of operations and is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the energy storage systems, or 10 years, once the respective energy storage systems have been installed and interconnected to the power grid, the Company has received permission to operate, and the Company has begun to provide energy optimization services to the customer (i.e., energy storage system is live). Repairs and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred. Impairment charges related to energy storage system that were determined to no longer be recoverable totaled $2.6 million, $4.3 million and $1.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020, respectively.

Project Assets

Project assets primarily consist of costs related to battery backup projects in various stages of development that are capitalized prior to the completion of the sale of the projects, including projects that may have begun commercial operation and are actively marketed and intended to be sold. These project related costs include costs for development and construction of a system. Development costs may include legal, consulting, permitting, transmission upgrade, interconnection, and other similar costs. The Company would typically classify project assets as noncurrent due to the nature of projects (as long-lived assets) and the time required to complete all activities to develop, construct, and sell projects, which is typically longer than 12 months. Once the Company enters into a definitive sales agreement, the Company will classify project assets as current until the sale is completed and the revenue on the sale has been recognized. The Company presents all sales and expenditures related to the development and construction of project assets, whether fully or partially owned, as a component of cash flows from operating activities.

The Company reviews project assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. It considers a project commercially viable or recoverable if it is anticipated to be sold for a profit once it is either fully developed or fully constructed. It considers a partially developed or partially constructed project commercially viable or recoverable if the anticipated selling price is higher than the carrying value of the related project assets. The Company examines a number of factors to determine if the project is expected to be recoverable, including whether there are any changes in environmental, permitting, market pricing, regulatory, or other conditions that may impact the project. Such changes could cause the costs of the project to increase or the selling price of the project to decrease. If a project is not considered recoverable, we impair the respective project assets and adjust the carrying value to the estimated fair value, with the resulting impairment recorded within “general and administrative” expense in the consolidated statements of operations. The Company recognized $0.5 million in project asset impairments for the year ended December 31, 2022.

Contract Origination Costs, Net

Contract origination costs, net is stated at gross contract origination costs less accumulated amortization. Contract origination costs consists of sales commissions earned by the Company’s sales team, as well as related payroll taxes and other relevant fringe benefits that are direct, incremental, and recoverable costs of obtaining a contract with a customer. As a result, these amounts have been capitalized on the consolidated balance sheets. The Company deferred incremental costs of obtaining a contract of $9.6 million and $3.0 million during the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Contract origination costs are amortized over the expected period of benefit. The period of benefit is estimated by considering factors such as the timing of fulfillment of performance obligations, historical customer attrition rates, the useful life of the Company’s technology, and the impact of competition in its industry. Amortization of contract costs were $6.3 million, $3.9 million and $0.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020, respectively, and are included in sales and marketing expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. The Company also recorded $0.5 million and $0.1 million in impairment losses in sales and marketing expense in the statements of operations related to the contract origination costs that were determined to no longer be recoverable during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. No impairment losses were recorded during the year ended December 31, 2022.

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Business Combinations

The Company accounts for business acquisitions under ASC 805, Business Combinations. The total purchase consideration for an acquisition is measured as the fair value of the assets given, equity instruments issued and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date. Costs that are directly attributable to the acquisition are expensed as incurred. Identifiable assets (including intangible assets), liabilities assumed (including contingent liabilities) and noncontrolling interests in an acquisition are measured initially at their fair values at the acquisition date. The Company recognizes goodwill if the fair value of the total purchase consideration and any noncontrolling interests is in excess of the net fair value of the identifiable assets acquired and the liabilities assumed. The Company recognizes a bargain purchase gain within other income (expense), net, on the consolidated statement of operations if the net fair value of the identifiable assets acquired and the liabilities assumed is in excess of the fair value of the total purchase consideration and any noncontrolling interests. The Company includes the results of operations of the acquired business in the consolidated financial statements beginning on the acquisition date.

Goodwill

Goodwill amounts are not amortized, but rather tested for impairment at least annually or more often if circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. Goodwill is considered impaired if the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value. We have one reporting unit and as a result, goodwill has been assigned to the single reporting unit. We conducted our annual impairment test of goodwill in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2022 and determined that no adjustment to the carrying value of goodwill was required.

Intangible Assets

Internal-use software

The Company capitalizes costs incurred in the development of internal-use software during the application development stage. Costs related to preliminary project activities and post-implementation activities are expensed as incurred. Capitalized internal-use software is amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the software once it is ready for its intended use. The estimated useful life of costs capitalized is generally five years. The Company recorded amortization for internal-use software of $6.8 million, $5.0 million and $4.0 million in cost of revenues in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020, respectively.

Finite-lived Intangible Assets

Finite-lived intangible assets consist of identifiable intangible assets acquired in business combinations, such as customer relationships, developed technology and trade names. Finite-lived intangible assets acquired in business combinations are initially recorded at fair value and subsequently presented net of accumulated amortization. These intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives. Amortization expense for intangible assets was $16.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 and was not material for the years ended December 31, 2021, and 2020, respectively.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Company reviews its long-lived assets, which primarily consist of energy storage systems, right-of-use assets, and finite-lived intangible assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable or that the useful life is shorter than originally estimated. Recoverability of assets is measured by comparing the carrying amount of an asset to future undiscounted net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset over its remaining useful life.

If such assets are impaired, the impairment recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets. If the useful life is shorter than originally estimated, the Company depreciates or amortizes the remaining carrying value over the revised shorter useful life. Assets to be disposed of by sale are reflected at the lower of their carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell.

Leases

The Company determines if an arrangement is or contains a lease at inception by assessing whether the arrangement contains an identified asset and whether it has the right to control the identified asset. Right-of-use (“ROU”) assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the Company’s obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. The classification of the Company’s leases as operating or finance leases along with the initial measurement and recognition of the associated ROU assets and lease liabilities is performed at the lease commencement date. The measurement of ROU assets and lease liabilities is based on the present value of future lease payments over the lease

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term. The ROU asset also includes the effect of any lease payments made prior to or on lease commencement and excludes lease incentives and initial direct costs incurred, as applicable.

As the implicit rate in the Company’s leases is generally unknown, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the lease commencement date in determining the present value of future lease payments. The Company considers its credit risk, term of the lease, total lease payments and adjusts for the impacts of collateral, as necessary, when calculating its incremental borrowing rates. The lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain the Company will exercise any such options. Rent expense for the Company’s operating leases is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Variable lease payments are recorded as an expense in the period incurred.

The Company has elected to not separate lease and non-lease components for any leases within its existing classes of assets and, as a result, accounts for any lease and non-lease components as a single lease component. The Company has also elected to not apply the recognition requirement to any leases within its existing classes of assets with a term of 12 months or less.

Convertible Preferred Stock Warrant Liabilities

The Company evaluates whether its warrants for shares of convertible redeemable preferred stock are freestanding financial instruments that obligate the Company to redeem the underlying preferred stock at some point in the future and determined that each of its outstanding warrants for preferred stock are liability classified. The warrants are subject to re-measurement at each balance sheet date, and any change in fair value is recognized in the change in fair value of warrants and embedded derivatives in the consolidated statements of operations.

As discussed in Note 14 —Warrants, upon effectiveness of the Merger, substantially all of the outstanding convertible preferred stock warrants were converted into shares of common stock of Stem. As such, the associated warrant liability was reclassified to additional paid-in-capital upon the Merger and was no longer an outstanding Level 3 financial instrument as of December 31, 2022.

Common Stock Warrants

The Company evaluates common stock warrants under ASC 815-40, Derivatives and Hedging—Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity. The Company assesses whether common stock warrants are freestanding financial instruments and whether they meet the criteria to be classified in stockholders’ equity, or classified as a liability. Where common stock warrants do not meet the conditions to be classified in equity, the Company assesses whether they meet the definition of a liability under ASC 815. Common stock warrants that meet the definition of a liability are recognized on the balance sheet at fair value. Subsequent changes in their respective fair values are recognized in the consolidated statement of operations at each reporting date.

As indicated in Note 14 —Warrants, as part of STPK’s initial public offering, the Company issued Public Warrants and Private Warrants, which upon issuance met the criteria for liability classification under ASC 815. As of December 31, 2022, no Public or Private warrants are outstanding.

Asset Retirement Obligations

The Company recognizes a liability for the fair value of asset retirement obligations (“ARO”) associated with its energy storage systems in the period in which there is a legal obligation associated with the retirement of such assets and the amount can be reasonably estimated. The associated asset retirement costs are capitalized as part of the carrying amount of the energy storage systems and depreciated over the asset’s remaining useful life. This liability includes costs related to the removal of its energy storage systems at the conclusion of each respective customer contract. Subsequent to initial measurement, the asset retirement liability is accreted each period and such accretion is recognized as an expense in the consolidated statements of operations. If there are changes in the estimated amount or timing of cash flows, a revision is recorded to both the asset retirement obligation and the asset retirement capitalized cost.

Financing Obligations

The Company has formed various SPEs to finance the development and construction of its energy storage systems. These SPEs, which are structured as limited liability companies, obtain financing in the form of large upfront payments from outside investors and purchase energy storage systems from the Company under master purchase agreements. The Company accounts for the large upfront payments received from the fund investor as a borrowing by recording the proceeds received as a financing obligation, which will be repaid through host customer payments and incentives received from the utilities that will be received by the investor.

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The financing obligation is non-recourse once the associated energy storage systems have been placed in-service and the associated customer arrangements have been assigned to the SPE. However, the Company is responsible for any warranties, performance guarantees, accounting, performance reporting, and all other costs associated with the operation of the energy storage systems. Despite such energy storage systems being legally sold to the SPEs, the Company recognizes host customer payments and incentives as revenue during the period as discussed in Note 3 —Revenue. The amounts received by the fund investor from customer payments and incentives are recognized as interest using the effective interest method, and the balance is applied to reduce the financing obligation. The effective interest rate is the interest rate that equates the present value of the cash amounts to be received by a fund investor in relation to the underlying Projects with the present value of the cash amounts paid by the investor to the Company, adjusted for any payments made by the Company.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Assets and liabilities recorded at fair value in the consolidated financial statements are categorized based upon the level of judgment associated with the inputs used to measure their fair value. The fair value of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities reflects management’s estimate of amounts that the Company would have received in connection with the sale of the assets or paid in connection with the transfer of the liabilities in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. In connection with measuring the fair value of its assets and liabilities, the Company seeks to maximize the use of observable inputs (market data obtained from independent sources) and to minimize the use of unobservable inputs (internal assumptions about how market participants would price assets and liabilities).

Hierarchical levels which are directly related to the amount of subjectivity associated with the inputs to the valuation of these assets or liabilities are as follows:

Level 1 — Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access as of the measurement date.

Level 2 — Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are directly observable for the asset or liability or indirectly observable through corroboration with observable market data.

Level 3 — Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability only used when there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability at the measurement date.

This hierarchy requires the Company to use observable market data, when available, and to minimize the use of unobservable inputs when determining fair value. Assets and liabilities measured at fair value are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to their fair value measurement. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a specific input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires management to make judgments and consider factors specific to the asset or liability.

Financial assets and liabilities held by the Company measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, include cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, convertible notes, warrant liabilities and embedded derivatives which are bifurcated from the host financial instrument.

Revenue Recognition

Revenues are recognized when control of the promised goods or services are transferred to the Company’s customers in an amount that reflects the consideration that is expected to be received in exchange for those goods or services. The Company generates all of its revenues from contracts with its customers. The Company recognizes revenue through arrangements with customers, host customer arrangements, partnership arrangements, and sale of project assets as described below.

Host Customer Arrangements

Host customer contracts are generally entered into with commercial entities that have traditionally relied on power supplied directly from the grid. Host customer arrangements consist of a promise to provide energy optimization services through the Company’s proprietary software platform coupled with a dedicated energy storage system owned and controlled by the Company throughout the term of the contract. The host customer does not obtain legal title to, or ownership of the dedicated energy storage system at any point in time. The host customer is the end consumer of the energy that directly benefits from the energy optimization services provided by the Company. The term for the Company’s contracts with host customers generally ranges from 5 to 10 years, which may include certain renewal options to extend the initial contract term or certain termination options to reduce the initial contract term.

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Although the Company installs an energy storage system at the host customer site in order to provide the energy optimization services, the Company directs how and for what purpose the asset is used through the operation of its software platform and, as such, retains control of the energy storage system; therefore, the contract does not contain a lease. The Company determines the various energy optimization services provided throughout the term of the contract, which may include services such as remote monitoring, performance reporting, preventative maintenance and other ancillary services necessary for the safe and reliable operation of the energy storage system, are part of a combined output of energy optimization services and the Company provides a single distinct combined performance obligation representing a series of distinct days of services.

The Company determines the transaction price at the outset of the arrangement, primarily based on the contractual payment terms dictated by the contract with the customer. Fees charged to customers for energy optimization services generally consist of recurring fixed monthly payments throughout the term of the contract. In certain arrangements, the transaction price may include incentive payments that are earned by the host customer from utility companies in relation to the services provided by the Company. Under such arrangements, the rights to the incentive payments are assigned by the host customer to the Company. These incentives may be in the form of fixed upfront payments, variable monthly payments, or annual performance-based payments over the first 5 years of the customer contract term. Incentive payments may be contingent on approval from utility companies or actual future performance of the energy storage system.

Substantially all of the Company’s arrangements provide customers the unilateral ability to terminate for convenience prior to the conclusion of the stated contractual term or the contractual term is shorter than the estimated benefit period, which the Company has determined to be 10 years based on the estimated useful life of the underlying energy storage systems and the period over which the customer can benefit from the energy optimization services utilizing such energy storage systems. In these instances, the Company determined that upfront incentive payments received from its customers represent a material right that is, in effect, an advance payment for future energy optimization services to be recognized throughout the estimated benefit period. In contracts where the customer does not have the unilateral ability to terminate for convenience without a penalty during the estimated benefit period, the Company determined the upfront incentive payments do not represent a material right for services provided beyond the initial contractual period and are therefore a component of the initial transaction price. The Company revisits its estimate of the benefit period each reporting period. The Company’s contracts with host customers do not contain a significant financing component.

The Company transfers control of its energy optimization services to its customers continuously throughout the term of the contract (a stand-ready obligation) and revenue is recognized ratably as control of these services is transferred to its customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be contractually entitled to in exchange for its services. Monthly incentive payments based on the performance of the energy storage system are allocated to the distinct month in which they are earned because the terms of the payments relate specifically to the outcome from transferring the distinct time increment (month) of service and because such amounts reflect the fees to which the Company expects to be entitled for providing energy optimization services each period, consistent with the allocation objective. Annual variable performance- based payments are estimated at the inception in the transaction price using the expected value method, which takes into consideration historical experience, current contractual requirements, specific known market events and forecasted energy storage system performance patterns, and the Company recognizes such payments ratably using a time-based measure of progress of days elapsed over the term of the contract to the extent that it is probable that a significant reversal of the cumulative revenue recognized will not occur in a future period. At the end of each reporting period, the Company reassesses its estimate of the transaction price. The Company does not begin recognition of revenue until the energy storage system is live (i.e., provision of energy optimization services has commenced) or, as it relates to incentive payments, when approval has been received from the utility company, if later.

Partnership Arrangements

Partnership arrangements consist of promises to transfer inventory in the form of an energy storage system to a “solar plus storage” project developer and separately provide energy optimization services as described previously to the ultimate owner of the project after the developer completes the installation of the project. Under partnership arrangements, the Company’s customer is the solar plus storage project developer. The customer obtains legal title to along with ownership and control of the inventory upon delivery and the customer is responsible for the installation of the project. Once installation of the project is complete, the owner of the solar plus storage project provides energy to the end consumer through a separate contractual arrangement directly with the end consumer. The term for the Company’s contracts with customers under partnership arrangements generally ranges from 10 to 20 years.

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The Company determined the promise to deliver the inventory as a component of the solar plus storage project for which the customer is responsible to develop is a separate and distinct performance obligation from the promise to provide energy optimization services.

The Company determines the transaction price at the outset of the arrangement, primarily based on the contractual payment terms dictated by the contract with the customer. Fees charged for the sale of inventory generally consist of fixed fees payable upon or shortly after successful delivery to the customer. For some customers, the contractual payment terms are based on milestone dates of development activities, such as the date customers accept, acquire, or develop project assets or the date customers install or commission hardware on project assets. Such milestone dates may result in unbilled accounts receivable for noncancellable purchase orders when control of hardware is transferred to the customer and Company has legal right to consideration prior to the milestone date of development activities. For certain customers, the Company also guarantees the value of hardware will not decline for a certain period of time, usually six months to one year. The Company accounts for such contractual payments terms and guarantees as variable consideration at each measurement date at its most likely amount to the extent that it is probable that a significant reversal of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur. Fees charged to customers for energy optimization services consist of recurring fixed monthly payments throughout the term of the contract. The Company is responsible for designing, procuring, delivering and ensuring the proper components are provided in accordance with the requirements of the contract. Although the inventory is purchased by the Company from a third-party manufacturer, the Company determined it obtains control of the inventory prior to delivery to the customer and is the principal in the arrangement. The Company is fully responsible for responding to and correcting any customer issues related to the delivery of the inventory. The Company holds title and assumes all risks of loss associated with the inventory until the customer accepts the inventory. The Company is primarily responsible for fulfilling the delivery of the inventory to the customer, assumes substantial inventory risks and has discretion in the pricing charged to the customer. The Company has not entered into any partnership arrangements where it is not the principal in the transaction.

The Company allocates revenue between the hardware and energy storage services performance obligations based on the standalone selling price of each performance obligation. The standalone selling price for the hardware is established based on observable pricing. The standalone selling price for the energy optimization services is established using a residual value approach due to the significant variability in the services provided to each individual customer based on the specific requirements of each individual project and the lack of observable standalone sales of such services. The Company’s partnership arrangements do not contain a significant financing component.

The Company transfers control of the inventory upon delivery and simultaneous transfer of title to the customer. The Company transfers control of its energy optimization services to its customers continuously throughout the term of the contract (a stand-ready obligation), which does not commence until the customer successfully completes the installation of the project. As a result, the time frame between when the Company transfers control of the inventory to the customer upon delivery is generally several months, and can be in excess of one year, before the Company is required to perform any subsequent energy optimization services. Revenue is recognized ratably as control of these services is transferred to its customers based on a time-based output measure of progress of days elapsed over the term of the contract, in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for its services.

In some partnership arrangements, the Company charges shipping fees for the inventory. The Company accounts for shipping as a fulfillment activity, since control transfers to the customer after the shipping is complete and includes such amounts within cost of revenue.

Sale of Project Assets

For sales of project assets in which the Company transfers 100% of the membership interest in project assets to a customer, the Company recognizes all of the revenue for the consideration received at a point in time when the membership interest was transferred to the customer, which typically occurs when the Company delivered the membership interest assignment agreement to the customer. The transaction price of contract arrangements is comprised of both fixed and variable amounts. Variable consideration is estimated at each measurement date at its most likely amount to the extent that it is probable that a significant reversal of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur and true-ups are applied prospectively as such estimates change. Changes in estimates for sales of project assets occur when the actual development expenses vary from estimates made at the time the membership interests transferred to the customer. The cumulative effect of revisions to transaction prices are recorded in the period in which the revisions to estimates are identified and the amounts can be reasonably estimated. Variable consideration related to the sale of project assets are generally resolved within 60 days of sale of project assets and are currently not material to the Company’s financial statements.

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Cost of Revenue

Cost of Hardware Revenue

Cost of revenue related to the sale of hardware includes the cost of the hardware sold to project developers, which generally includes the cost to purchase the hardware from a manufacturer, shipping, and other costs required to fulfill the Company’s obligation to deliver the hardware to the customer location. Cost of revenue may also include any impairment of hardware held in inventory for sale to a customer. Cost of revenue related to the sale of hardware is recognized when the delivery of the hardware is completed.

Cost of Service and Other Revenue

Cost of revenue related to energy optimization services includes depreciation of the cost of energy storage systems associated with long-term host customer contracts, which includes capitalized fulfillment costs, such as installation services, permitting and other related costs. Cost of services and other revenue and other also includes the costs for the development and constructions of project assets. Cost of revenue may also include any impairment of energy storage systems along with energy storage system maintenance costs associated with the ongoing services provided to customers and other amounts not qualifying for capitalization pursuant to the Company’s internal use software capitalization policy. Cost of revenue is recognized as the energy optimization and other supporting services are provided to the Company’s customers throughout the term of the contract.

Sales and Marketing

Sales and marketing expense consists primarily of payroll and other related personnel costs, including stock-based compensation, employee benefits, and travel for the Company’s sales & marketing department. These costs are recognized in the period incurred. Advertising expenses for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020 were not material.

Research and Development

Research and development expense consists primarily of payroll and other related personnel costs for engineers and third parties engaged in the design and development of products, third-party software, and technologies, including salaries, bonus, and stock-based compensation expense, project material costs, services, and depreciation. The Company expenses research and development costs as they are incurred.

General and Administrative

General and administrative expense consists of payroll and other related personnel costs, including salaries, bonus, and stock-based compensation for executive management, legal, finance, and others. In addition, general and administrative expense includes fees for professional services and occupancy costs.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company recognizes stock-based compensation expense related to employees over the requisite service period based on the grant-date fair value of the awards. The fair value of options granted is estimated using the Black-Scholes option valuation model. The Company recognizes the grant-date fair value of an award as compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which typically corresponds to the vesting period for the award. The Company elects to account for forfeitures as they occur and, upon forfeiture of an award prior to vesting, the Company reverses any previously recognized compensation expense related to that award.

Income Taxes

The Company uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes based on ASC 740, Accounting for Income Taxes. Under the asset and liability method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between financial statement carrying amounts and the tax basis of existing assets and liabilities. The Company records a valuation allowance to reduce tax assets to an amount for which realization is more likely than not. There are certain charges that are not deductible for tax purposes.

In evaluating the ability to recover its deferred income tax assets, the Company considers all available positive and negative evidence, including its operating results, ongoing tax planning, and forecasts of future taxable income on a jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction basis. In the event the Company determines that it would be able to realize its deferred income tax assets in the future in excess of their net recorded amount, it would make an adjustment to the valuation allowance that would reduce the provision for income taxes. Conversely, in the event that all or part of the net deferred tax assets are determined not

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to be realizable in the future, an adjustment to the valuation allowance would be charged to earnings in the period such determination is made.