diff --git a/backend/src/routes/internal.js b/backend/src/routes/internal.js
index add8e6f..f296d18 100644
--- a/backend/src/routes/internal.js
+++ b/backend/src/routes/internal.js
@@ -39,6 +39,8 @@ async function categoryCostBreakdown(start, end) {
 
   for (const cat of categories) {
     const { rows: meters } = await pool.query('SELECT id, name FROM meters WHERE category_id = $1 AND active = TRUE', [cat.id])
+    if (meters.length === 0) continue // no meters yet (e.g. Water/Oil seeded but unused) — nothing to report
+
     const catTotals = {
       usage_cost_pence: 0, standing_cost_pence: 0, ccl_cost_pence: 0, rab_levy_cost_pence: 0,
       metering_cost_pence: 0, other_charges_cost_pence: 0, vat_pence: 0, total_pence: 0, consumption: 0,
@@ -127,7 +129,9 @@ export async function internalRoutes(app) {
   app.get('/api/internal/trend', async (req) => {
     const monthsCount = Math.min(parseInt(req.query.months) || 12, 24)
     const { rows: categories } = await pool.query(
-      'SELECT key, name, unit_label FROM meter_categories WHERE active = TRUE ORDER BY sort_order'
+      `SELECT DISTINCT c.key, c.name, c.unit_label, c.sort_order FROM meter_categories c
+       JOIN meters m ON m.category_id = c.id AND m.active = TRUE
+       WHERE c.active = TRUE ORDER BY c.sort_order`
     )
 
     const now = new Date()