diff --git a/assets/js/components/Config/NewDeviceButton.vue b/assets/js/components/Config/NewDeviceButton.vue
index 6a6aecef9..b7ec08b32 100644
--- a/assets/js/components/Config/NewDeviceButton.vue
+++ b/assets/js/components/Config/NewDeviceButton.vue
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 <template>
 	<button
 		class="root d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center"
-		:class="{ attention }"
 		tabindex="0"
 		@click="$emit('click')"
 	>
@@ -17,7 +16,6 @@ export default {
 	name: "NewDeviceButton",
 	props: {
 		title: String,
-		attention: Boolean,
 	},
 	emits: ["click"],
 };
@@ -40,25 +38,4 @@ export default {
 	border-color: var(--evcc-default-text);
 	color: var(--evcc-default-text);
 }
-.attention {
-	animation: wiggle 3s cubic-bezier(0.36, 0.07, 0.19, 0.97) infinite;
-}
-
-@keyframes wiggle {
-	0%,
-	100% {
-		transform: rotate(0deg);
-	}
-	5%,
-	15% {
-		transform: rotate(-2deg);
-	}
-	10%,
-	20% {
-		transform: rotate(2deg);
-	}
-	25% {
-		transform: rotate(0deg);
-	}
-}
 </style>
diff --git a/assets/js/components/Config/WelcomeBanner.vue b/assets/js/components/Config/WelcomeBanner.vue
index cc367e693..efa7ddf92 100644
--- a/assets/js/components/Config/WelcomeBanner.vue
+++ b/assets/js/components/Config/WelcomeBanner.vue
@@ -13,3 +13,9 @@ export default {
 	components: { Markdown },
 };
 </script>
+
+<style scoped>
+.alert {
+	margin-bottom: 5rem;
+}
+</style>
diff --git a/assets/js/components/Energyflow/Energyflow.vue b/assets/js/components/Energyflow/Energyflow.vue
index fa0910a97..7f3c445ca 100644
--- a/assets/js/components/Energyflow/Energyflow.vue
+++ b/assets/js/components/Energyflow/Energyflow.vue
@@ -1,7 +1,10 @@
 <template>
 	<div
-		class="energyflow cursor-pointer position-relative"
-		:class="{ 'energyflow--open': detailsOpen }"
+		class="energyflow position-relative"
+		:class="{
+			'energyflow--open': detailsOpen || detailsAlwaysOpen,
+			'cursor-pointer': !detailsAlwaysOpen,
+		}"
 		data-testid="energyflow"
 		@click="toggleDetails"
 	>
@@ -445,7 +448,13 @@ export default defineComponent({
 		outPower() {
 			return this.homePower + this.loadpointsPower + this.pvExport + this.batteryCharge;
 		},
+		detailsAlwaysOpen() {
+			return this.loadpoints.length === 0;
+		},
 		detailsHeight() {
+			if (this.detailsAlwaysOpen) {
+				return "auto";
+			}
 			return this.detailsOpen ? this.detailsCompleteHeight + "px" : 0;
 		},
 		batteryFmt() {
@@ -545,6 +554,7 @@ export default defineComponent({
 	},
 	mounted() {
 		window.addEventListener("resize", this.updateHeight);
+
 		// height must be calculated in case of initially open details
 		if (settings.energyflowDetails) {
 			this.toggleDetails();
diff --git a/assets/js/components/Loadpoints/Loadpoints.vue b/assets/js/components/Loadpoints/Loadpoints.vue
index bb02d2938..506d32782 100644
--- a/assets/js/components/Loadpoints/Loadpoints.vue
+++ b/assets/js/components/Loadpoints/Loadpoints.vue
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 <template>
 	<div
 		class="container container--loadpoint px-0 mb-md-2 d-flex flex-column justify-content-center"
+		data-testid="loadpoints"
 	>
 		<div
+			v-if="loadpoints.length > 0"
 			ref="carousel"
 			class="carousel d-lg-flex flex-wrap"
 			:class="[`carousel--${loadpoints.length}`, { 'carousel--fullwidth': fullWidth }]"
@@ -186,7 +188,7 @@ export default defineComponent({
 });
 </script>
 <style scoped>
-.container--loadpoint {
+.container--loadpoint:not(:empty) {
 	min-height: 300px;
 }
 
diff --git a/assets/js/components/Site/Site.vue b/assets/js/components/Site/Site.vue
index b8d07ff33..f4120593e 100644
--- a/assets/js/components/Site/Site.vue
+++ b/assets/js/components/Site/Site.vue
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@
 				</div>
 			</div>
 			<Loadpoints
-				v-else-if="loadpoints.length > 0"
+				v-else
 				class="mt-1 mt-sm-2 flex-grow-1"
 				:loadpoints="orderedVisibleLoadpoints"
 				:vehicles="vehicleList"
diff --git a/assets/js/views/Config.vue b/assets/js/views/Config.vue
index 4c6337080..2cad2aad0 100644
--- a/assets/js/views/Config.vue
+++ b/assets/js/views/Config.vue
@@ -20,8 +20,8 @@
 					@site-changed="siteChanged"
 				/>
 
+				<WelcomeBanner v-if="setupRequired" />
 				<h2 class="my-4">{{ $t("config.section.loadpoints") }}</h2>
-				<WelcomeBanner v-if="loadpointsRequired" class="my-4" />
 				<div class="p-0 config-list">
 					<DeviceCard
 						v-for="loadpoint in loadpoints"
@@ -48,7 +48,6 @@
 					<NewDeviceButton
 						data-testid="add-loadpoint"
 						:title="$t('config.main.addLoadpoint')"
-						:attention="loadpointsRequired"
 						@click="newLoadpoint"
 					/>
 				</div>
@@ -571,8 +570,8 @@ export default defineComponent({
 		authProviders() {
 			return store.state?.authProviders;
 		},
-		loadpointsRequired() {
-			return this.loadpoints.length === 0;
+		setupRequired() {
+			return store.state?.setupRequired;
 		},
 		siteTitle() {
 			return this.site?.title;
diff --git a/cmd/root.go b/cmd/root.go
index 67e51da7f..c07c4db60 100644
--- a/cmd/root.go
+++ b/cmd/root.go
@@ -279,7 +279,7 @@ func runRoot(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 	// signal devices initialized
 	valueChan <- util.Param{Key: keys.StartupCompleted, Val: true}
 	// show onboarding UI
-	valueChan <- util.Param{Key: keys.SetupRequired, Val: site == nil || len(site.Loadpoints()) == 0}
+	valueChan <- util.Param{Key: keys.SetupRequired, Val: site == nil || !site.IsConfigured()}
 
 	// setup mqtt publisher
 	if err == nil && conf.Mqtt.Broker != "" && conf.Mqtt.Topic != "" {
diff --git a/core/site.go b/core/site.go
index cfefc896b..57d948edf 100644
--- a/core/site.go
+++ b/core/site.go
@@ -957,7 +957,7 @@ func (site *Site) update(lp updater) {
 
 	// prioritize if possible
 	var flexiblePower float64
-	if lp.GetMode() == api.ModePV {
+	if lp != nil && lp.GetMode() == api.ModePV {
 		flexiblePower = site.prioritizer.GetChargePowerFlexibility(lp)
 	}
 
@@ -978,10 +978,12 @@ func (site *Site) update(lp updater) {
 		greenShareLoadpoints := site.greenShare(nonChargePower, nonChargePower+totalChargePower)
 
 		// TODO
-		lp.Update(
-			sitePower, max(0, site.batteryPower), consumption, feedin, batteryBuffered, batteryStart,
-			greenShareLoadpoints, site.effectivePrice(greenShareLoadpoints), site.effectiveCo2(greenShareLoadpoints),
-		)
+		if lp != nil {
+			lp.Update(
+				sitePower, max(0, site.batteryPower), consumption, feedin, batteryBuffered, batteryStart,
+				greenShareLoadpoints, site.effectivePrice(greenShareLoadpoints), site.effectiveCo2(greenShareLoadpoints),
+			)
+		}
 
 		site.Health.Update()
 
@@ -1097,9 +1099,18 @@ func (site *Site) Prepare(valueChan chan<- util.Param, pushChan chan<- push.Even
 
 // loopLoadpoints keeps iterating across loadpoints sending the next to the given channel
 func (site *Site) loopLoadpoints(next chan<- updater) {
+	var logOnce sync.Once
+
 	for {
-		for _, lp := range site.loadpoints {
-			next <- lp
+		if len(site.loadpoints) == 0 {
+			logOnce.Do(func() {
+				site.log.INFO.Println("no loadpoints configured, running in meter-only mode")
+			})
+			next <- nil
+		} else {
+			for _, lp := range site.loadpoints {
+				next <- lp
+			}
 		}
 	}
 }
@@ -1114,7 +1125,7 @@ func (site *Site) Run(stopC chan struct{}, interval time.Duration) {
 	}
 
 	loadpointChan := make(chan updater)
-	if len(site.loadpoints) > 0 {
+	if site.IsConfigured() {
 		go site.loopLoadpoints(loadpointChan)
 	}
 
diff --git a/core/site_api.go b/core/site_api.go
index e593a4c3a..74f3798b8 100644
--- a/core/site_api.go
+++ b/core/site_api.go
@@ -137,6 +137,14 @@ func (site *Site) Loadpoints() []loadpoint.API {
 	return lo.Map(site.loadpoints, func(lp *Loadpoint, _ int) loadpoint.API { return lp })
 }
 
+func (site *Site) hasMeters() bool {
+	return site.gridMeter != nil || len(site.pvMeters) > 0 || len(site.batteryMeters) > 0 || len(site.auxMeters) > 0 || len(site.extMeters) > 0
+}
+
+func (site *Site) IsConfigured() bool {
+	return len(site.loadpoints) > 0 || site.hasMeters()
+}
+
 // loadpointsAsCircuitDevices returns the loadpoints as circuit devices
 func (site *Site) loadpointsAsCircuitDevices() []api.CircuitLoad {
 	return lo.Map(site.loadpoints, func(lp *Loadpoint, _ int) api.CircuitLoad { return lp })
diff --git a/i18n/de.json b/i18n/de.json
index 4d7992173..4e9bc8199 100644
--- a/i18n/de.json
+++ b/i18n/de.json
@@ -387,7 +387,7 @@
       "title": "Konfiguration",
       "unconfigured": "nicht konfiguriert",
       "vehicles": "Meine Fahrzeuge",
-      "welcomeBannerText": "Lege zunächst eine **Wallbox oder Heizung** an. Falls du noch keine echte Wallbox hast, wähle eine **Demowallbox**.",
+      "welcomeBannerText": "Lege zunächst eine **Wallbox**, **Heizung**, **Netzzähler**, **Solar**, **Batterie** oder **zusätzlichen Zähler** an. Falls du nur testen möchtest, wähle ein **Demogerät**.",
       "welcomeBannerTitle": "Los geht's mit der Konfiguration!",
       "yaml": "Geräte aus evcc.yaml sind nicht editierbar."
     },
diff --git a/i18n/en.json b/i18n/en.json
index 22f8e8d3b..c2f0efd0c 100644
--- a/i18n/en.json
+++ b/i18n/en.json
@@ -387,7 +387,7 @@
       "title": "Configuration",
       "unconfigured": "not configured",
       "vehicles": "My Vehicles",
-      "welcomeBannerText": "Start with creating a **charger or heater**. If you don't have a real charger yet, choose a **demo charger**.",
+      "welcomeBannerText": "Start with creating at least one **charger**, **heater**, **grid**, **solar**, **battery** or **additional meter**. If you're just want to test, pick a **demo device**.",
       "welcomeBannerTitle": "Let's configure your system!",
       "yaml": "Devices from evcc.yaml are not editable."
     },
diff --git a/tests/backup-restore.spec.ts b/tests/backup-restore.spec.ts
index fbfaa6334..003341042 100644
--- a/tests/backup-restore.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/backup-restore.spec.ts
@@ -196,9 +196,14 @@ test.describe("backup and restore", async () => {
     await expect(page.getByTestId("offline-indicator")).toHaveAttribute("aria-hidden", "false");
     await restart(undefined, undefined, true);
     await expect(page.getByTestId("offline-indicator")).toHaveAttribute("aria-hidden", "true");
-    await page.getByRole("link", { name: "Let's start configuration" }).click();
 
-    // verify initial state
+    // redirect to main ui with initial title
+    await expect(
+      page.getByTestId("header").getByRole("heading", { name: initialTitle })
+    ).toBeVisible();
+
+    // verify initial state in config ui
+    await page.goto("/#/config");
     await expect(page.getByTestId("grid")).toBeVisible();
     await expect(page.getByTestId("generalconfig-title")).toContainText(initialTitle);
     await stop();
diff --git a/tests/config-meter-only.spec.ts b/tests/config-meter-only.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f99e3fa09
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/config-meter-only.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+import { test, expect } from "@playwright/test";
+import { start, stop, restart, baseUrl } from "./evcc";
+import { expectModalHidden, expectModalVisible } from "./utils";
+
+test.use({ baseURL: baseUrl() });
+
+test.beforeAll(async () => {
+  await start();
+});
+test.afterAll(async () => {
+  await stop();
+});
+
+test.describe("meter only", async () => {
+  test("run without loadpoints", async ({ page }) => {
+    await page.goto("/#/config");
+
+    await expect(page.getByTestId("welcome-banner")).toContainText(
+      "Start with creating at least one"
+    );
+
+    await page.getByRole("button", { name: "Add grid meter" }).click();
+    const gridModal = page.getByTestId("meter-modal");
+    await expectModalVisible(gridModal);
+    await gridModal.getByLabel("Manufacturer").selectOption("Demo meter");
+    await gridModal.getByLabel("Power").fill("1000");
+    await gridModal.getByRole("button", { name: "Save" }).click();
+    await expectModalHidden(gridModal);
+
+    await restart();
+
+    await expect(page.getByTestId("welcome-banner")).not.toBeVisible();
+    await expect(page.getByTestId("grid").getByTestId("device-tag-power")).toContainText("1.0 kW");
+
+    await page.getByTestId("home-link").click();
+
+    await expect(page.locator("body")).not.toContainText("Hello aboard!");
+    await expect(page.getByTestId("energyflow")).toBeVisible();
+    await expect(page.getByTestId("energyflow-entry-gridimport")).toContainText("1.0 kW");
+    await expect(page.getByTestId("loadpoints")).toBeEmpty();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/tests/config-onboarding.spec.ts b/tests/config-onboarding.spec.ts
index aa4596c9c..74fd61ba1 100644
--- a/tests/config-onboarding.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/config-onboarding.spec.ts
@@ -58,6 +58,9 @@ test.describe("onboarding", async () => {
     await expectModalVisible(lpModal);
     await lpModal.getByRole("button", { name: "Save" }).click();
     await expectModalHidden(lpModal);
+
+    await restart();
+
     await expect(page.getByTestId("welcome-banner")).not.toBeVisible();
 
     // create grid meter
diff --git a/tests/evcc.ts b/tests/evcc.ts
index 71ce7f194..b15cea92e 100644
--- a/tests/evcc.ts
+++ b/tests/evcc.ts
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ async function _start(config?: string, flags: string | string[] = []) {
     steamLog.end();
   });
   try {
-    await waitOn({ resources: [baseUrl()], log: LOG_ENABLED, timeout: 50000 });
+    await waitOn({ resources: [baseUrl()], log: LOG_ENABLED, timeout: 90000 });
   } catch (error) {
     instance.kill("SIGKILL");
     console.error(logPrefix(), `evcc startup failed: ${error}`);