diff --git a/cmd/setup.go b/cmd/setup.go
index ab1baebd2e..ebc8fa0b80 100644
--- a/cmd/setup.go
+++ b/cmd/setup.go
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/evcc-io/evcc/cmd/shutdown"
 	"github.com/evcc-io/evcc/core"
 	"github.com/evcc-io/evcc/core/keys"
-	"github.com/evcc-io/evcc/core/site"
 	"github.com/evcc-io/evcc/hems"
 	"github.com/evcc-io/evcc/meter"
 	"github.com/evcc-io/evcc/provider/golang"
@@ -914,7 +913,7 @@ func configureSiteAndLoadpoints(conf *globalconfig.All) (*core.Site, error) {
 	}
 
 	if len(config.Circuits().Devices()) > 0 {
-		if err := validateCircuits(site, loadpoints); err != nil {
+		if err := validateCircuits(loadpoints); err != nil {
 			return nil, &ClassError{ClassCircuit, err}
 		}
 	}
@@ -922,26 +921,39 @@ func configureSiteAndLoadpoints(conf *globalconfig.All) (*core.Site, error) {
 	return site, nil
 }
 
-func validateCircuits(site site.API, loadpoints []*core.Loadpoint) error {
+func validateCircuits(loadpoints []*core.Loadpoint) error {
+	var hasRoot bool
+
 CONTINUE:
 	for _, dev := range config.Circuits().Devices() {
 		instance := dev.Instance()
 
-		if instance.HasMeter() || site.GetCircuit() == instance {
-			continue
+		isRoot := instance.GetParent() == nil
+		if isRoot {
+			if hasRoot {
+				return errors.New("multiple root circuits")
+			}
+
+			hasRoot = true
 		}
 
 		for _, lp := range loadpoints {
 			if lp.GetCircuit() == instance {
+				if isRoot {
+					return fmt.Errorf("root circuit must not be assigned to loadpoint %s", lp.Title())
+				}
+
 				continue CONTINUE
 			}
 		}
 
-		return fmt.Errorf("circuit %s has no meter or loadpoint assigned", dev.Config().Name)
+		if !isRoot && !instance.HasMeter() {
+			return fmt.Errorf("circuit %s has no meter and no loadpoint assigned", dev.Config().Name)
+		}
 	}
 
-	if site.GetCircuit() == nil {
-		return errors.New("site has no circuit")
+	if !hasRoot {
+		return errors.New("missing root circuit")
 	}
 
 	return nil
@@ -957,10 +969,6 @@ func configureSite(conf map[string]interface{}, loadpoints []*core.Loadpoint, ta
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed configuring site: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	if len(config.Circuits().Devices()) > 0 && site.GetCircuit() == nil {
-		return nil, errors.New("site has no circuit")
-	}
-
 	return site, nil
 }
 
diff --git a/cmd/setup_circuits_test.go b/cmd/setup_circuits_test.go
index 58efe0d1c3..bba5cec49a 100644
--- a/cmd/setup_circuits_test.go
+++ b/cmd/setup_circuits_test.go
@@ -6,10 +6,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/evcc-io/evcc/api"
 	"github.com/evcc-io/evcc/api/globalconfig"
-	"github.com/evcc-io/evcc/core"
-	"github.com/evcc-io/evcc/meter"
 	"github.com/evcc-io/evcc/server/db"
-	"github.com/evcc-io/evcc/tariff"
 	"github.com/evcc-io/evcc/util/config"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/suite"
 	"go.uber.org/mock/gomock"
@@ -39,7 +36,8 @@ func (suite *circuitsTestSuite) TestCircuitConf() {
 	var conf globalconfig.All
 	viper.SetConfigType("yaml")
 
-	suite.Require().NoError(viper.ReadConfig(strings.NewReader(`circuits:
+	suite.Require().NoError(viper.ReadConfig(strings.NewReader(`
+circuits:
 - name: master
   maxPower: 10000
 - name: slave
@@ -63,11 +61,43 @@ loadpoints:
 
 	lps, err := configureLoadpoints(conf)
 	suite.Require().NoError(err)
-	suite.Require().Len(lps, 1)
 	suite.Require().NotNil(lps[0].GetCircuit())
 }
 
-func (suite *circuitsTestSuite) TestLoadpointMissingCircuitError() {
+func (suite *circuitsTestSuite) TestCircuitMissingLoadpoint() {
+	var conf globalconfig.All
+	viper.SetConfigType("yaml")
+
+	suite.Require().NoError(viper.ReadConfig(strings.NewReader(`
+circuits:
+- name: master
+- name: slave
+  parent: master
+loadpoints:
+- charger: test
+`)))
+
+	suite.Require().NoError(viper.UnmarshalExact(&conf))
+
+	suite.Require().NoError(configureCircuits(conf.Circuits))
+	suite.Require().Len(config.Circuits().Devices(), 2)
+	suite.Require().False(config.Circuits().Devices()[0].Instance().HasMeter())
+
+	// empty charger
+	suite.Require().NoError(config.Chargers().Add(config.NewStaticDevice(config.Named{
+		Name: "test",
+	}, api.Charger(nil))))
+
+	lps, err := configureLoadpoints(conf)
+	suite.Require().NoError(err)
+
+	// circuit without device
+	err = validateCircuits(lps)
+	suite.Require().Error(err)
+	suite.Require().Equal("circuit slave has no meter and no loadpoint assigned", err.Error())
+}
+
+func (suite *circuitsTestSuite) TestMissingRootCircuit() {
 	var conf globalconfig.All
 	viper.SetConfigType("yaml")
 
@@ -94,47 +124,50 @@ loadpoints:
 	lps, err := configureLoadpoints(conf)
 	suite.Require().NoError(err)
 
-	site := core.NewSite()
-	circuit.EXPECT().HasMeter().Return(false)
-	suite.Require().Error(validateCircuits(site, lps))
+	// root circuit
+	circuit.EXPECT().GetParent().Return(nil)
+	circuit.EXPECT().HasMeter().Return(true)
+	suite.Require().NoError(validateCircuits(lps))
+
+	// no root circuit
+	circuit.EXPECT().GetParent().Return(circuit)
+	// circuit.EXPECT().HasMeter().Return(true)
+	err = validateCircuits(lps)
+	suite.Require().Error(err)
+	suite.Require().Equal("missing root circuit", err.Error())
 }
 
-func (suite *circuitsTestSuite) TestSiteMissingCircuitError() {
+func (suite *circuitsTestSuite) TestLoadpointUsingRootCircuit() {
 	var conf globalconfig.All
 	viper.SetConfigType("yaml")
 
 	suite.Require().NoError(viper.ReadConfig(strings.NewReader(`
 loadpoints:
 - charger: test
-site:
-  meters:
-    grid: grid
+  circuit: root
 `)))
 
 	suite.Require().NoError(viper.UnmarshalExact(&conf))
 
-	lps := []*core.Loadpoint{
-		new(core.Loadpoint),
-	}
+	ctrl := gomock.NewController(suite.T())
+	circuit := api.NewMockCircuit(ctrl)
 
 	// mock circuit
 	suite.Require().NoError(config.Circuits().Add(config.NewStaticDevice(config.Named{
-		Name: "test",
-	}, api.Circuit(nil))))
-
-	// mock meter
-	m, _ := meter.NewConfigurable(func() (float64, error) {
-		return 0, nil
-	})
-	suite.Require().NoError(config.Meters().Add(config.NewStaticDevice(config.Named{
-		Name: "grid",
-	}, api.Meter(m))))
+		Name: "root",
+	}, api.Circuit(circuit))))
 
 	// mock charger
 	suite.Require().NoError(config.Chargers().Add(config.NewStaticDevice(config.Named{
 		Name: "test",
 	}, api.Charger(nil))))
 
-	_, err := configureSite(conf.Site, lps, new(tariff.Tariffs))
+	lps, err := configureLoadpoints(conf)
+	suite.Require().NoError(err)
+
+	// root circuit
+	circuit.EXPECT().GetParent().Return(nil)
+	err = validateCircuits(lps)
 	suite.Require().Error(err)
+	suite.Require().Equal("root circuit must not be assigned to loadpoint ", err.Error())
 }
diff --git a/core/circuit/config.go b/core/circuit/config.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..30af21a749
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/circuit/config.go
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+package circuit
+
+import (
+	"github.com/evcc-io/evcc/api"
+	"github.com/evcc-io/evcc/util/config"
+)
+
+func Root() api.Circuit {
+	for _, dev := range config.Circuits().Devices() {
+		if c := dev.Instance(); c.GetParent() == nil {
+			return c
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/core/site.go b/core/site.go
index 569f498879..bad0f92104 100644
--- a/core/site.go
+++ b/core/site.go
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/cenkalti/backoff/v4"
 	"github.com/evcc-io/evcc/api"
 	"github.com/evcc-io/evcc/cmd/shutdown"
+	"github.com/evcc-io/evcc/core/circuit"
 	"github.com/evcc-io/evcc/core/coordinator"
 	"github.com/evcc-io/evcc/core/keys"
 	"github.com/evcc-io/evcc/core/loadpoint"
@@ -69,7 +70,8 @@ type Site struct {
 	Voltage       float64      `mapstructure:"voltage"`       // Operating voltage. 230V for Germany.
 	ResidualPower float64      `mapstructure:"residualPower"` // PV meter only: household usage. Grid meter: household safety margin
 	Meters        MetersConfig `mapstructure:"meters"`        // Meter references
-	CircuitRef    string       `mapstructure:"circuit"`       // Circuit reference
+	// TODO deprecated
+	CircuitRef_ string `mapstructure:"circuit"` // Circuit reference
 
 	MaxGridSupplyWhileBatteryCharging float64 `mapstructure:"maxGridSupplyWhileBatteryCharging"` // ignore battery charging if AC consumption is above this value
 
@@ -169,12 +171,8 @@ func (site *Site) Boot(log *util.Logger, loadpoints []*Loadpoint, tariffs *tarif
 	}
 
 	// circuit
-	if site.CircuitRef != "" {
-		dev, err := config.Circuits().ByName(site.CircuitRef)
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-		site.circuit = dev.Instance()
+	if c := circuit.Root(); c != nil {
+		site.circuit = c
 	}
 
 	// grid meter