diff --git a/src/panels/lovelace/cards/energy/hui-energy-usage-graph-card.ts b/src/panels/lovelace/cards/energy/hui-energy-usage-graph-card.ts
index 18e737696f..cda61fecbf 100644
--- a/src/panels/lovelace/cards/energy/hui-energy-usage-graph-card.ts
+++ b/src/panels/lovelace/cards/energy/hui-energy-usage-graph-card.ts
@@ -291,20 +291,19 @@ export class HuiEnergyUsageGraphCard
           true
         )
       );
-    } else {
-      // add empty dataset so compare bars are first
-      // `stack: usage` so it doesn't take up space yet
-      const firstId = statIds.from_grid?.[0] ?? "placeholder";
-      datasets.push({
-        id: "compare-" + firstId,
-        type: "bar",
-        stack: "usage",
-        data: [],
-        // @ts-expect-error
-        order: 0,
-      });
     }
 
+    // add empty dataset so compare bars are first
+    // `stack: usage` so it doesn't take up space yet
+    datasets.push({
+      id: "compare-placeholder",
+      type: "bar",
+      stack: energyData.statsCompare ? "compare" : "usage",
+      data: [],
+      // @ts-expect-error
+      order: 0,
+    });
+
     datasets.push(
       ...this._processDataSet(
         energyData.stats,