X12 transaction guide · Communications
EDI 814 General Request, Response or Confirmation
The X12 document used to request actions, respond to requests, or confirm actions performed, widely used in deregulated energy markets.
- Sent by
- Energy supplier, utility or other market participant
- Received by
- Utility, supplier or other market participant
- Standard
- ANSI ASC X12
What is an EDI 814?
The EDI 814 General Request, Response or Confirmation is the ANSI X12 transaction set used to request actions to be performed, to respond to such requests, or to confirm information about actions performed.
Its best-known use is in deregulated retail energy markets in the United States, where competitive suppliers and utilities exchange 814s to enroll customers, drop them, change account details and confirm switches. Each market publishes its own implementation guides, so the same transaction set carries different rules from state to state. Usage data then follows in the 867 and billing in the 810.
How to read this diagram: the top row shows who sends the 814, to whom, and which documents usually come before and after it. The lower part shows what X12 release 008010 itself requires: the envelopes around the 814 and the segments and loops the standard marks as required, area by area. Optional loops are listed by the segment that starts them rather than drawn in full. This is the standard's minimum, not a trading partner's requirement: each partner's implementation guide usually makes some optional loops mandatory, restricts the codes and may use a different release.
When it is used
- Enrolling a customer with a competitive energy supplier
- Dropping a customer or changing account details
- Responding to and confirming enrollment requests
Where it fits in the document flow
Structure
Mandatory segments in the 814 (X12 release 008010)
The segments X12 release 008010 marks as mandatory at their level, in order. Segments inside optional loops are needed only when the loop is used. This is the standard's requirement, not your trading partner's: each partner's implementation guide names the release it uses, adds the optional segments it requires and restricts the values. The requirement status comes from one published X12 reference listing and has not been checked against a second source.
- ST
- BGN
- FA1
- FA2
- AMT
- N1
- LM
- LQ
- LIN
- NM1
- AWD
- SE
Practical example
The 814 in practice
A homeowner signs up with a competitive electricity supplier. The supplier sends the local utility an 814 enrollment request with the customer's account number and requested start date. The utility validates the account, replies with an 814 accepting the enrollment and the switch date, and later sends usage data with the 867.
Implementation
Implementation considerations for the 814
- Follow the implementation guide of each state market, which differ significantly.
- Meet market timelines for enrollment and drop processing.
- Validate account numbers and customer details before sending.
- Track every request until a response or rejection is received.
How ECOM helps
Automate the 814 with ECOM
Solution
B2B Integration
Connect every customer, supplier, carrier and bank across EDI, API, file and portal channels.
Solution
EDI Integration
Exchange X12 and EDIFACT documents with partners and integrate them directly with your ERP.
Solution
Enterprise Integration
Any-to-any integration across partners, systems, protocols, security requirements, formats and ERPs, in batch or real time.
More general questions about EDI are answered in the EDI FAQ.
Related transactions
Related communications documents
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