diff --git a/.devcontainer/configuration.yaml b/.devcontainer/configuration.yaml
index 151020ad..531e7372 100644
--- a/.devcontainer/configuration.yaml
+++ b/.devcontainer/configuration.yaml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ default_config:
 ocpp:
   default_authorization_status: 'Invalid'
   authorization_list:
-    - id_tag: '12345678'
+    - id_tag: 'pulsar'
       name: 'My tag'
       authorization_status : Accepted
     - id_tag: 'CAFEBABE'
diff --git a/custom_components/ocpp/__init__.py b/custom_components/ocpp/__init__.py
index a27638bc..7554608e 100644
--- a/custom_components/ocpp/__init__.py
+++ b/custom_components/ocpp/__init__.py
@@ -53,9 +53,12 @@
 
 async def async_setup(hass: HomeAssistant, config: Config):
     """Read configuration from yaml."""
+
+    ocpp_config = config.get(DOMAIN, {})
     if DOMAIN not in hass.data:
         hass.data[DOMAIN] = {}
-    hass.data[DOMAIN][CONFIG] = config
+    hass.data[DOMAIN][CONFIG] = ocpp_config
+    _LOGGER.info(f"config = {ocpp_config}")
     return True
 
 
diff --git a/custom_components/ocpp/api.py b/custom_components/ocpp/api.py
index 35b72a91..e3164e10 100644
--- a/custom_components/ocpp/api.py
+++ b/custom_components/ocpp/api.py
@@ -1214,13 +1214,23 @@ def on_start_transaction(self, connector_id, id_tag, meter_start, **kwargs):
         # get the authorization list
         auth_list = config.get(CONF_AUTH_LIST, {})
         # search for the entry, based on the id_tag
-        auth_status = default_auth_status
+        auth_status = None
         for auth_entry in auth_list:
-            if id_tag is auth_entry.get(CONF_ID_TAG, None):
+            id_entry = auth_entry.get(CONF_ID_TAG, None)
+            if id_tag == id_entry:
                 # get the authorization status, use the default if not configured
                 auth_status = auth_entry.get(CONF_AUTH_STATUS, default_auth_status)
+                _LOGGER.debug(
+                    f"id_tag='{id_tag}' found in auth_list, authorization_status='{auth_status}'"
+                )
                 break
 
+        if auth_status is None:
+            auth_status = default_auth_status
+            _LOGGER.debug(
+                f"id_tag='{id_tag}' not found in auth_list, default authorization_status='{auth_status}'"
+            )
+
         if auth_status is AuthorizationStatus.accepted.value:
             self.active_transaction_id = int(time.time())
             self._metrics[cstat.id_tag.value].value = id_tag