[ARCHIVE] Error code 404: invalid energy account vs unavailable energy account

Archived 2022.11.20. Content moved to error scenarios and responses.

Question

Where an account is described as either "blocked" or "suspended", should the Data Holder (DH) respond to a data request call with error 404 Unavailable Energy Account for data that is “blocked” or “suspended” and with error 404 Invalid Energy Account if the data sharing is disabled or not possible?
See CDR Rules:

• main section, part 3, division 3.2, 3.5 Refusal to disclose required consumer data in response to consumer data request (1)aa
• main section, part 4, subdivision 4.2.3, 4.7 Refusal to disclose required consumer data in response to consumer data request (1)(c)

Answer

The response is left to the discretion of the DH, with the guiding principle of whether future calls to the same resource are likely to receive a response. For instance, if the account is temporarily unavailable, due to a transient hold on the account, then error 404 Unavailable Energy Account is the appropriate response. However, for the protection of vulnerable consumers, or if the account is no longer associated with a consent, then error 404 Invalid Energy Account is the appropriate response.

Business rules within each DH also play a role in determining how each scenario is handled.