diff --git a/meter/homeassistant.go b/meter/homeassistant.go
index de884c4a3..5ee44d0e2 100644
--- a/meter/homeassistant.go
+++ b/meter/homeassistant.go
@@ -68,24 +68,24 @@ func NewHomeAssistantFromConfig(other map[string]any) (api.Meter, error) {
 	}
 
 	// phase currents (optional)
-	if phases, err := homeassistant.ValidatePhaseEntities(cc.Currents); len(phases) > 0 {
-		currentsG = func() (float64, float64, float64, error) { return conn.GetPhaseFloatStates(phases) }
-	} else if err != nil {
+	if phases, err := homeassistant.ValidatePhaseEntities(cc.Currents); err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("currents: %w", err)
+	} else if len(phases) > 0 {
+		currentsG = func() (float64, float64, float64, error) { return conn.GetPhaseFloatStates(phases) }
 	}
 
 	// phase voltages (optional)
-	if phases, err := homeassistant.ValidatePhaseEntities(cc.Voltages); len(phases) > 0 {
-		voltagesG = func() (float64, float64, float64, error) { return conn.GetPhaseFloatStates(phases) }
-	} else if err != nil {
+	if phases, err := homeassistant.ValidatePhaseEntities(cc.Voltages); err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("voltages: %w", err)
+	} else if len(phases) > 0 {
+		voltagesG = func() (float64, float64, float64, error) { return conn.GetPhaseFloatStates(phases) }
 	}
 
 	// phase powers (optional)
-	if phases, err := homeassistant.ValidatePhaseEntities(cc.Powers); len(phases) > 0 {
-		powersG = func() (float64, float64, float64, error) { return conn.GetPhaseFloatStates(phases) }
-	} else if err != nil {
+	if phases, err := homeassistant.ValidatePhaseEntities(cc.Powers); err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("powers: %w", err)
+	} else if len(phases) > 0 {
+		powersG = func() (float64, float64, float64, error) { return conn.GetPhaseFloatStates(phases) }
 	}
 
 	if cc.Soc != "" {
diff --git a/util/homeassistant/connection.go b/util/homeassistant/connection.go
index 58a823317..484e7cf3b 100644
--- a/util/homeassistant/connection.go
+++ b/util/homeassistant/connection.go
@@ -103,6 +103,9 @@ func (c *Connection) GetIntState(entity string) (int64, error) {
 
 // GetFloatState retrieves the state of an entity as float64
 func (c *Connection) GetFloatState(entity string) (float64, error) {
+	// leading minus sign?
+	entity, invert := strings.CutPrefix(entity, "-")
+
 	state, err := c.GetState(entity)
 	if err != nil {
 		return 0, err
@@ -118,6 +121,10 @@ func (c *Connection) GetFloatState(entity string) (float64, error) {
 		return 0, fmt.Errorf("%w for entity %s", err, entity)
 	}
 
+	if invert {
+		value = -value
+	}
+
 	return scale * value, nil
 }