diff --git a/homeassistant/components/zha/core/channels/__init__.py b/homeassistant/components/zha/core/channels/__init__.py
index 2011f92a63b6..00409794473b 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/zha/core/channels/__init__.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/zha/core/channels/__init__.py
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import asyncio
-from collections.abc import Coroutine
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, TypeVar
 
 import zigpy.endpoint
@@ -50,7 +49,6 @@ class Channels:
         self._pools: list[ChannelPool] = []
         self._power_config: base.ZigbeeChannel | None = None
         self._identify: base.ZigbeeChannel | None = None
-        self._semaphore = asyncio.Semaphore(3)
         self._unique_id = str(zha_device.ieee)
         self._zdo_channel = base.ZDOChannel(zha_device.device.endpoints[0], zha_device)
         self._zha_device = zha_device
@@ -82,11 +80,6 @@ class Channels:
         if self._identify is None:
             self._identify = channel
 
-    @property
-    def semaphore(self) -> asyncio.Semaphore:
-        """Return semaphore for concurrent tasks."""
-        return self._semaphore
-
     @property
     def zdo_channel(self) -> base.ZDOChannel:
         """Return ZDO channel."""
@@ -336,13 +329,8 @@ class ChannelPool:
 
     async def _execute_channel_tasks(self, func_name: str, *args: Any) -> None:
         """Add a throttled channel task and swallow exceptions."""
-
-        async def _throttle(coro: Coroutine[Any, Any, None]) -> None:
-            async with self._channels.semaphore:
-                return await coro
-
         channels = [*self.claimed_channels.values(), *self.client_channels.values()]
-        tasks = [_throttle(getattr(ch, func_name)(*args)) for ch in channels]
+        tasks = [getattr(ch, func_name)(*args) for ch in channels]
         results = await asyncio.gather(*tasks, return_exceptions=True)
         for channel, outcome in zip(channels, results):
             if isinstance(outcome, Exception):
diff --git a/homeassistant/components/zha/core/channels/base.py b/homeassistant/components/zha/core/channels/base.py
index b10209f45f48..7beefe2f0d06 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/zha/core/channels/base.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/zha/core/channels/base.py
@@ -310,11 +310,14 @@ class ZigbeeChannel(LogMixin):
         """Set cluster binding and attribute reporting."""
         if not self._ch_pool.skip_configuration:
             if self.BIND:
+                self.debug("Performing cluster binding")
                 await self.bind()
             if self.cluster.is_server:
+                self.debug("Configuring cluster attribute reporting")
                 await self.configure_reporting()
             ch_specific_cfg = getattr(self, "async_configure_channel_specific", None)
             if ch_specific_cfg:
+                self.debug("Performing channel specific configuration")
                 await ch_specific_cfg()
             self.debug("finished channel configuration")
         else:
@@ -325,6 +328,7 @@ class ZigbeeChannel(LogMixin):
     async def async_initialize(self, from_cache: bool) -> None:
         """Initialize channel."""
         if not from_cache and self._ch_pool.skip_configuration:
+            self.debug("Skipping channel initialization")
             self._status = ChannelStatus.INITIALIZED
             return
 
@@ -334,12 +338,23 @@ class ZigbeeChannel(LogMixin):
         uncached.extend([cfg["attr"] for cfg in self.REPORT_CONFIG])
 
         if cached:
-            await self._get_attributes(True, cached, from_cache=True)
+            self.debug("initializing cached channel attributes: %s", cached)
+            await self._get_attributes(
+                True, cached, from_cache=True, only_cache=from_cache
+            )
         if uncached:
-            await self._get_attributes(True, uncached, from_cache=from_cache)
+            self.debug(
+                "initializing uncached channel attributes: %s - from cache[%s]",
+                uncached,
+                from_cache,
+            )
+            await self._get_attributes(
+                True, uncached, from_cache=from_cache, only_cache=from_cache
+            )
 
         ch_specific_init = getattr(self, "async_initialize_channel_specific", None)
         if ch_specific_init:
+            self.debug("Performing channel specific initialization: %s", uncached)
             await ch_specific_init(from_cache=from_cache)
 
         self.debug("finished channel initialization")
@@ -407,7 +422,7 @@ class ZigbeeChannel(LogMixin):
             self._cluster,
             [attribute],
             allow_cache=from_cache,
-            only_cache=from_cache and not self._ch_pool.is_mains_powered,
+            only_cache=from_cache,
             manufacturer=manufacturer,
         )
         return result.get(attribute)
@@ -417,6 +432,7 @@ class ZigbeeChannel(LogMixin):
         raise_exceptions: bool,
         attributes: list[int | str],
         from_cache: bool = True,
+        only_cache: bool = True,
     ) -> dict[int | str, Any]:
         """Get the values for a list of attributes."""
         manufacturer = None
@@ -428,17 +444,18 @@ class ZigbeeChannel(LogMixin):
         result = {}
         while chunk:
             try:
+                self.debug("Reading attributes in chunks: %s", chunk)
                 read, _ = await self.cluster.read_attributes(
                     attributes,
                     allow_cache=from_cache,
-                    only_cache=from_cache and not self._ch_pool.is_mains_powered,
+                    only_cache=only_cache,
                     manufacturer=manufacturer,
                 )
                 result.update(read)
             except (asyncio.TimeoutError, zigpy.exceptions.ZigbeeException) as ex:
                 self.debug(
                     "failed to get attributes '%s' on '%s' cluster: %s",
-                    attributes,
+                    chunk,
                     self.cluster.ep_attribute,
                     str(ex),
                 )
diff --git a/homeassistant/components/zha/core/channels/general.py b/homeassistant/components/zha/core/channels/general.py
index f528057c313d..81152bb8869a 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/zha/core/channels/general.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/zha/core/channels/general.py
@@ -463,7 +463,9 @@ class PowerConfigurationChannel(ZigbeeChannel):
             "battery_size",
             "battery_quantity",
         ]
-        return self.get_attributes(attributes, from_cache=from_cache)
+        return self.get_attributes(
+            attributes, from_cache=from_cache, only_cache=from_cache
+        )
 
 
 @registries.ZIGBEE_CHANNEL_REGISTRY.register(general.PowerProfile.cluster_id)
diff --git a/homeassistant/components/zha/core/channels/homeautomation.py b/homeassistant/components/zha/core/channels/homeautomation.py
index 02fa835dc202..e1019ed31bf9 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/zha/core/channels/homeautomation.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/zha/core/channels/homeautomation.py
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ class ElectricalMeasurementChannel(ZigbeeChannel):
             for a in self.REPORT_CONFIG
             if a["attr"] not in self.cluster.unsupported_attributes
         ]
-        result = await self.get_attributes(attrs, from_cache=False)
+        result = await self.get_attributes(attrs, from_cache=False, only_cache=False)
         if result:
             for attr, value in result.items():
                 self.async_send_signal(
diff --git a/homeassistant/components/zha/core/device.py b/homeassistant/components/zha/core/device.py
index 41d90b48869d..854d80ffb78d 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/zha/core/device.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/zha/core/device.py
@@ -351,11 +351,15 @@ class ZHADevice(LogMixin):
         if self.is_coordinator:
             return
         if self.last_seen is None:
+            self.debug("last_seen is None, marking the device unavailable")
             self.update_available(False)
             return
 
         difference = time.time() - self.last_seen
         if difference < self.consider_unavailable_time:
+            self.debug(
+                "Device seen - marking the device available and resetting counter"
+            )
             self.update_available(True)
             self._checkins_missed_count = 0
             return
@@ -365,6 +369,10 @@ class ZHADevice(LogMixin):
             or self.manufacturer == "LUMI"
             or not self._channels.pools
         ):
+            self.debug(
+                "last_seen is %s seconds ago and ping attempts have been exhausted, marking the device unavailable",
+                difference,
+            )
             self.update_available(False)
             return
 
@@ -386,13 +394,23 @@ class ZHADevice(LogMixin):
 
     def update_available(self, available: bool) -> None:
         """Update device availability and signal entities."""
+        self.debug(
+            "Update device availability -  device available: %s - new availability: %s - changed: %s",
+            self.available,
+            available,
+            self.available ^ available,
+        )
         availability_changed = self.available ^ available
         self.available = available
         if availability_changed and available:
             # reinit channels then signal entities
+            self.debug(
+                "Device availability changed and device became available, reinitializing channels"
+            )
             self.hass.async_create_task(self._async_became_available())
             return
         if availability_changed and not available:
+            self.debug("Device availability changed and device became unavailable")
             self._channels.zha_send_event(
                 {
                     "device_event_type": "device_offline",
diff --git a/homeassistant/components/zha/core/gateway.py b/homeassistant/components/zha/core/gateway.py
index 64f7b24ff99f..1280f3defe32 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/zha/core/gateway.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/zha/core/gateway.py
@@ -239,29 +239,25 @@ class ZHAGateway:
 
     async def async_initialize_devices_and_entities(self) -> None:
         """Initialize devices and load entities."""
-        semaphore = asyncio.Semaphore(2)
 
-        async def _throttle(zha_device: ZHADevice, cached: bool) -> None:
-            async with semaphore:
-                await zha_device.async_initialize(from_cache=cached)
-
-        _LOGGER.debug("Loading battery powered devices")
+        _LOGGER.warning("Loading all devices")
         await asyncio.gather(
-            *(
-                _throttle(dev, cached=True)
-                for dev in self.devices.values()
-                if not dev.is_mains_powered
-            )
+            *(dev.async_initialize(from_cache=True) for dev in self.devices.values())
         )
 
-        _LOGGER.debug("Loading mains powered devices")
-        await asyncio.gather(
-            *(
-                _throttle(dev, cached=False)
-                for dev in self.devices.values()
-                if dev.is_mains_powered
+        async def fetch_updated_state() -> None:
+            """Fetch updated state for mains powered devices."""
+            _LOGGER.warning("Fetching current state for mains powered devices")
+            await asyncio.gather(
+                *(
+                    dev.async_initialize(from_cache=False)
+                    for dev in self.devices.values()
+                    if dev.is_mains_powered
+                )
             )
-        )
+
+        # background the fetching of state for mains powered devices
+        asyncio.create_task(fetch_updated_state())
 
     def device_joined(self, device: zigpy.device.Device) -> None:
         """Handle device joined.
diff --git a/homeassistant/components/zha/light.py b/homeassistant/components/zha/light.py
index b6d344a57e71..ef7205feb877 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/zha/light.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/zha/light.py
@@ -488,7 +488,7 @@ class Light(BaseLight, ZhaEntity):
             ]
 
             results = await self._color_channel.get_attributes(
-                attributes, from_cache=False
+                attributes, from_cache=False, only_cache=False
             )
 
             if (color_mode := results.get("color_mode")) is not None:
diff --git a/tests/components/zha/conftest.py b/tests/components/zha/conftest.py
index cb562cd5eaab..482a11b95dea 100644
--- a/tests/components/zha/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/components/zha/conftest.py
@@ -177,6 +177,7 @@ def zha_device_joined(hass, setup_zha):
     """Return a newly joined ZHA device."""
 
     async def _zha_device(zigpy_dev):
+        zigpy_dev.last_seen = time.time()
         await setup_zha()
         zha_gateway = common.get_zha_gateway(hass)
         await zha_gateway.async_device_initialized(zigpy_dev)
diff --git a/tests/components/zha/test_device.py b/tests/components/zha/test_device.py
index 76877e71ffc3..0f2caceada5f 100644
--- a/tests/components/zha/test_device.py
+++ b/tests/components/zha/test_device.py
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ def _send_time_changed(hass, seconds):
 
 @patch(
     "homeassistant.components.zha.core.channels.general.BasicChannel.async_initialize",
-    new=mock.MagicMock(),
+    new=mock.AsyncMock(),
 )
 async def test_check_available_success(
     hass, device_with_basic_channel, zha_device_restored
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ async def test_check_available_success(
 
 @patch(
     "homeassistant.components.zha.core.channels.general.BasicChannel.async_initialize",
-    new=mock.MagicMock(),
+    new=mock.AsyncMock(),
 )
 async def test_check_available_unsuccessful(
     hass, device_with_basic_channel, zha_device_restored
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ async def test_check_available_unsuccessful(
 
 @patch(
     "homeassistant.components.zha.core.channels.general.BasicChannel.async_initialize",
-    new=mock.MagicMock(),
+    new=mock.AsyncMock(),
 )
 async def test_check_available_no_basic_channel(
     hass, device_without_basic_channel, zha_device_restored, caplog
diff --git a/tests/components/zha/test_fan.py b/tests/components/zha/test_fan.py
index e367857b2608..19f5f39a22f3 100644
--- a/tests/components/zha/test_fan.py
+++ b/tests/components/zha/test_fan.py
@@ -471,7 +471,10 @@ async def test_fan_update_entity(
     assert hass.states.get(entity_id).attributes[ATTR_PERCENTAGE] == 0
     assert hass.states.get(entity_id).attributes[ATTR_PRESET_MODE] is None
     assert hass.states.get(entity_id).attributes[ATTR_PERCENTAGE_STEP] == 100 / 3
-    assert cluster.read_attributes.await_count == 2
+    if zha_device_joined_restored.name == "zha_device_joined":
+        assert cluster.read_attributes.await_count == 2
+    else:
+        assert cluster.read_attributes.await_count == 4
 
     await async_setup_component(hass, "homeassistant", {})
     await hass.async_block_till_done()
@@ -480,7 +483,10 @@ async def test_fan_update_entity(
         "homeassistant", "update_entity", {"entity_id": entity_id}, blocking=True
     )
     assert hass.states.get(entity_id).state == STATE_OFF
-    assert cluster.read_attributes.await_count == 3
+    if zha_device_joined_restored.name == "zha_device_joined":
+        assert cluster.read_attributes.await_count == 3
+    else:
+        assert cluster.read_attributes.await_count == 5
 
     cluster.PLUGGED_ATTR_READS = {"fan_mode": 1}
     await hass.services.async_call(
@@ -490,4 +496,7 @@ async def test_fan_update_entity(
     assert hass.states.get(entity_id).attributes[ATTR_PERCENTAGE] == 33
     assert hass.states.get(entity_id).attributes[ATTR_PRESET_MODE] is None
     assert hass.states.get(entity_id).attributes[ATTR_PERCENTAGE_STEP] == 100 / 3
-    assert cluster.read_attributes.await_count == 4
+    if zha_device_joined_restored.name == "zha_device_joined":
+        assert cluster.read_attributes.await_count == 4
+    else:
+        assert cluster.read_attributes.await_count == 6