diff --git a/myems-api/core/utilities.py b/myems-api/core/utilities.py
index 2d070a66..39ddf085 100644
--- a/myems-api/core/utilities.py
+++ b/myems-api/core/utilities.py
@@ -387,6 +387,12 @@ def get_energy_category_peak_types(cost_center_id, energy_category_id, start_dat
 ########################################################################################################################
 def averaging_hourly_data_by_period(rows_hourly, start_datetime_utc, end_datetime_utc, period_type):
     # todo: validate parameters
+    if start_datetime_utc is None or \
+            end_datetime_utc is None or \
+            start_datetime_utc >= end_datetime_utc or \
+            period_type not in ('hourly', 'daily', 'monthly', 'yearly'):
+        return list(), None, None
+
     start_datetime_utc = start_datetime_utc.replace(tzinfo=None)
     end_datetime_utc = end_datetime_utc.replace(tzinfo=None)