diff --git a/collectd_ceilometer/aodh/plugin.py b/collectd_ceilometer/aodh/plugin.py
index 7b33ea3..0350467 100644
--- a/collectd_ceilometer/aodh/plugin.py
+++ b/collectd_ceilometer/aodh/plugin.py
@@ -39,10 +39,9 @@ def register_plugin(collectd):
     config = Config.instance()
 
     # Setup loggging
-    log_handler = CollectdLogHandler(collectd=collectd)
-    log_handler.cfg = config
+    log_handler = CollectdLogHandler(collectd=collectd, config=config)
     ROOT_LOGGER.addHandler(log_handler)
-    ROOT_LOGGER.setLevel(logging.NOTSET)
+    ROOT_LOGGER.setLevel(logging.DEBUG)
 
     # Creates collectd plugin instance
     instance = Plugin(collectd=collectd, config=config)
diff --git a/collectd_ceilometer/ceilometer/plugin.py b/collectd_ceilometer/ceilometer/plugin.py
index 8c47ce2..51277ce 100644
--- a/collectd_ceilometer/ceilometer/plugin.py
+++ b/collectd_ceilometer/ceilometer/plugin.py
@@ -39,10 +39,9 @@ def register_plugin(collectd):
     config = Config.instance()
 
     # Setup loggging
-    log_handler = CollectdLogHandler(collectd=collectd)
-    log_handler.cfg = config
+    log_handler = CollectdLogHandler(collectd=collectd, config=config)
     ROOT_LOGGER.addHandler(log_handler)
-    ROOT_LOGGER.setLevel(logging.NOTSET)
+    ROOT_LOGGER.setLevel(logging.DEBUG)
 
     # Creates collectd plugin instance
     instance = Plugin(collectd=collectd, config=config)
diff --git a/collectd_ceilometer/common/logger.py b/collectd_ceilometer/common/logger.py
index 6b0d607..b5b7f6b 100644
--- a/collectd_ceilometer/common/logger.py
+++ b/collectd_ceilometer/common/logger.py
@@ -24,10 +24,9 @@ class CollectdLogHandler(logging.Handler):
     # messages longer than this size have to be split
     max_message_length = 1023
 
-    verbose = False
-
-    def __init__(self, collectd, level=logging.NOTSET):
+    def __init__(self, collectd, config, level=logging.NOTSET):
         super(CollectdLogHandler, self).__init__(level=level)
+        self.cfg = config
         self.priority_map = {
             logging.DEBUG: collectd.debug,
             logging.INFO: collectd.info,
@@ -51,7 +50,7 @@ class CollectdLogHandler(logging.Handler):
                 level=logging.ERROR)
 
     def emit_message(self, message, level):
-        if self.verbose and level == logging.DEBUG:
+        if self.cfg.VERBOSE and level == logging.DEBUG:
             level = logging.INFO
         elif level not in self.priority_map:
             level = logging.ERROR
diff --git a/collectd_ceilometer/gnocchi/plugin.py b/collectd_ceilometer/gnocchi/plugin.py
index 0a60e79..81ff90f 100644
--- a/collectd_ceilometer/gnocchi/plugin.py
+++ b/collectd_ceilometer/gnocchi/plugin.py
@@ -38,10 +38,9 @@ def register_plugin(collectd):
     config = Config.instance()
 
     # Setup loggging
-    log_handler = CollectdLogHandler(collectd=collectd)
-    log_handler.cfg = config
+    log_handler = CollectdLogHandler(collectd=collectd, config=config)
     ROOT_LOGGER.addHandler(log_handler)
-    ROOT_LOGGER.setLevel(logging.NOTSET)
+    ROOT_LOGGER.setLevel(logging.DEBUG)
 
     # Creates collectd plugin instance
     instance = Plugin(collectd=collectd, config=config)
diff --git a/collectd_ceilometer/tests/aodh/test_plugin.py b/collectd_ceilometer/tests/aodh/test_plugin.py
index 03476fb..58102ae 100644
--- a/collectd_ceilometer/tests/aodh/test_plugin.py
+++ b/collectd_ceilometer/tests/aodh/test_plugin.py
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ class TestPlugin(unittest.TestCase):
         # Logger handler is set up
         ROOT_LOGGER.addHandler.assert_called_once_with(
             CollectdLogHandler.return_value)
-        ROOT_LOGGER.setLevel.assert_called_once_with(logging.NOTSET)
+        ROOT_LOGGER.setLevel.assert_called_once_with(logging.DEBUG)
 
         # It creates a plugin
         Plugin.assert_called_once_with(
diff --git a/collectd_ceilometer/tests/ceilometer/test_plugin.py b/collectd_ceilometer/tests/ceilometer/test_plugin.py
index 95b87a5..c7a1c26 100644
--- a/collectd_ceilometer/tests/ceilometer/test_plugin.py
+++ b/collectd_ceilometer/tests/ceilometer/test_plugin.py
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ class TestPlugin(unittest.TestCase):
         # Logger handler is set up
         ROOT_LOGGER.addHandler.assert_called_once_with(
             CollectdLogHandler.return_value)
-        ROOT_LOGGER.setLevel.assert_called_once_with(logging.NOTSET)
+        ROOT_LOGGER.setLevel.assert_called_once_with(logging.DEBUG)
 
         # It create a plugin
         Plugin.assert_called_once_with(
diff --git a/collectd_ceilometer/tests/common/test_logger.py b/collectd_ceilometer/tests/common/test_logger.py
index dac64b6..dc757d1 100644
--- a/collectd_ceilometer/tests/common/test_logger.py
+++ b/collectd_ceilometer/tests/common/test_logger.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ import unittest
 import mock
 
 from collectd_ceilometer.common.logger import CollectdLogHandler
-
+from collectd_ceilometer.common.settings import Config
 from collectd_ceilometer.tests.mocking import patch_class
 
 
@@ -48,11 +48,16 @@ def make_record(
 
 class TestCollectdLogHandler(unittest.TestCase):
 
+    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        """Declare additional class attributes"""
+        super(TestCollectdLogHandler, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
+        self.config = Config.instance()
+
     @patch_class(MockedCollectd)
     def test_registered_hooks_when_init(self, collectd):
 
         # When CollectdLogHandler is created
-        handler = CollectdLogHandler(collectd=collectd)
+        handler = CollectdLogHandler(collectd=collectd, config=self.config)
 
         # Then collectd logging hooks are registered
         # pylint: disable=protected-access
@@ -68,7 +73,7 @@ class TestCollectdLogHandler(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_debug_when_emit(self, collectd):
 
         # Given
-        handler = CollectdLogHandler(collectd=collectd)
+        handler = CollectdLogHandler(collectd=collectd, config=self.config)
         record = make_record(msg="message", level=logging.DEBUG)
 
         # When a debug record is emitted
@@ -80,8 +85,8 @@ class TestCollectdLogHandler(unittest.TestCase):
     @patch_class(MockedCollectd)
     def test_verbose_debug_when_emit(self, collectd):
         # Given
-        handler = CollectdLogHandler(collectd=collectd)
-        handler.verbose = True
+        handler = CollectdLogHandler(collectd=collectd, config=self.config)
+        self.config.VERBOSE = True
         record = make_record(msg="message", level=logging.DEBUG)
 
         # When an info record is emitted
@@ -93,7 +98,7 @@ class TestCollectdLogHandler(unittest.TestCase):
     @patch_class(MockedCollectd)
     def test_info_when_emit(self, collectd):
         # Given
-        handler = CollectdLogHandler(collectd=collectd)
+        handler = CollectdLogHandler(collectd=collectd, config=self.config)
         record = make_record(msg="message", level=logging.INFO)
 
         # When an info record is emitted
@@ -105,7 +110,7 @@ class TestCollectdLogHandler(unittest.TestCase):
     @patch_class(MockedCollectd)
     def test_warning_when_emit(self, collectd):
         # Given
-        handler = CollectdLogHandler(collectd=collectd)
+        handler = CollectdLogHandler(collectd=collectd, config=self.config)
         record = make_record(msg="message", level=logging.WARNING)
 
         # When a warning record is emitted
@@ -117,7 +122,7 @@ class TestCollectdLogHandler(unittest.TestCase):
     @patch_class(MockedCollectd)
     def test_error_when_emit(self, collectd):
         # Given
-        handler = CollectdLogHandler(collectd=collectd)
+        handler = CollectdLogHandler(collectd=collectd, config=self.config)
         record = make_record(msg="message", level=logging.ERROR)
 
         # When an error record is emitted
@@ -129,7 +134,7 @@ class TestCollectdLogHandler(unittest.TestCase):
     @patch_class(MockedCollectd)
     def test_fatal_when_emit(self, collectd):
         # Given
-        handler = CollectdLogHandler(collectd=collectd)
+        handler = CollectdLogHandler(collectd=collectd, config=self.config)
         record = make_record(msg="message", level=logging.FATAL)
 
         # When a fatal record is emitted
@@ -142,7 +147,7 @@ class TestCollectdLogHandler(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_long_message_when_emit(self, collectd):
         # Given
         long_message = "LONG " * 20 + "MESSAGE."
-        handler = CollectdLogHandler(collectd=collectd)
+        handler = CollectdLogHandler(collectd=collectd, config=self.config)
         handler.max_message_length = 10
         record = make_record(msg=long_message)
 
@@ -157,11 +162,12 @@ class TestCollectdLogHandler(unittest.TestCase):
     @patch_class(MockedCollectd)
     def test_when_logger_debug(self, collectd):
         # Given
-        handler = CollectdLogHandler(collectd=collectd)
+        handler = CollectdLogHandler(collectd=collectd, config=self.config)
         logger = logging.Logger('some_logger')
         logger.addHandler(handler)
 
         # When debug is called
+        self.config.VERBOSE = False
         logger.debug('Say cheese: %s %d', 'string', 10)
 
         # Then debug hook is called
@@ -171,12 +177,12 @@ class TestCollectdLogHandler(unittest.TestCase):
     @patch_class(MockedCollectd)
     def test_verbose_when_logger_info(self, collectd):
         # Given
-        handler = CollectdLogHandler(collectd=collectd)
-        handler.verbose = True
+        handler = CollectdLogHandler(collectd=collectd, config=self.config)
         logger = logging.Logger('some_logger')
         logger.addHandler(handler)
 
         # When debug is called
+        self.config.VERBOSE = True
         logger.debug('Say cheese: %s %d', 'string', 10)
 
         # Then info hook is called
@@ -186,7 +192,7 @@ class TestCollectdLogHandler(unittest.TestCase):
     @patch_class(MockedCollectd)
     def test_non_verbose_when_logger_info(self, collectd):
         # Given
-        handler = CollectdLogHandler(collectd=collectd)
+        handler = CollectdLogHandler(collectd=collectd, config=self.config)
         handler.verbose = False
         logger = logging.Logger('some_logger')
         logger.addHandler(handler)
@@ -201,7 +207,7 @@ class TestCollectdLogHandler(unittest.TestCase):
     @patch_class(MockedCollectd)
     def test_info_from_logger(self, collectd):
         # Given
-        handler = CollectdLogHandler(collectd=collectd)
+        handler = CollectdLogHandler(collectd=collectd, config=self.config)
         logger = logging.Logger('some_logger')
         logger.addHandler(handler)
 
@@ -214,7 +220,7 @@ class TestCollectdLogHandler(unittest.TestCase):
     @patch_class(MockedCollectd)
     def test_warning_from_logger(self, collectd):
         # Given
-        handler = CollectdLogHandler(collectd=collectd)
+        handler = CollectdLogHandler(collectd=collectd, config=self.config)
         logger = logging.Logger('some_logger')
         logger.addHandler(handler)
 
@@ -227,7 +233,7 @@ class TestCollectdLogHandler(unittest.TestCase):
     @patch_class(MockedCollectd)
     def test_error_from_logger(self, collectd):
         # Given
-        handler = CollectdLogHandler(collectd=collectd)
+        handler = CollectdLogHandler(collectd=collectd, config=self.config)
         logger = logging.Logger('some_logger')
         logger.addHandler(handler)
 
@@ -240,7 +246,7 @@ class TestCollectdLogHandler(unittest.TestCase):
     @patch_class(MockedCollectd)
     def test_fatal_from_logger(self, collectd):
         # Given
-        handler = CollectdLogHandler(collectd=collectd)
+        handler = CollectdLogHandler(collectd=collectd, config=self.config)
         logger = logging.Logger('some_logger')
         logger.addHandler(handler)
 
diff --git a/collectd_ceilometer/tests/gnocchi/test_plugin.py b/collectd_ceilometer/tests/gnocchi/test_plugin.py
index f2df1e9..9a3aec9 100644
--- a/collectd_ceilometer/tests/gnocchi/test_plugin.py
+++ b/collectd_ceilometer/tests/gnocchi/test_plugin.py
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ class TestPlugin(unittest.TestCase):
         # Logger handler is set up
         ROOT_LOGGER.addHandler.assert_called_once_with(
             CollectdLogHandler.return_value)
-        ROOT_LOGGER.setLevel.assert_called_once_with(logging.NOTSET)
+        ROOT_LOGGER.setLevel.assert_called_once_with(logging.DEBUG)
 
         # It create a plugin
         Plugin.assert_called_once_with(
diff --git a/doc/source/examples/local.conf.minimal b/doc/source/examples/local.conf.minimal
index 9013f93..5c6f6de 100644
--- a/doc/source/examples/local.conf.minimal
+++ b/doc/source/examples/local.conf.minimal
@@ -27,5 +27,5 @@ CEILOMETER_BACKEND=mysql
 enable_plugin collectd-ceilometer https://github.com/openstack/collectd-ceilometer-plugin
 
 COLLECTD_INSTALL=True
-COLLECTD_CEILOMETER_VERBOSE=True
+COLLECTD_CEILOMETER_VERBOSE=False
 COLLECTD_CEILOMETER_ENABLED=True
diff --git a/etc/collectd.conf.d/collectd-gnocchi-plugin.conf b/etc/collectd.conf.d/collectd-gnocchi-plugin.conf
index f28f638..6f86c4a 100644
--- a/etc/collectd.conf.d/collectd-gnocchi-plugin.conf
+++ b/etc/collectd.conf.d/collectd-gnocchi-plugin.conf
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
     <Module "collectd_ceilometer.gnocchi.plugin">
 
         # Verbosity True|False
-        VERBOSE True
+        VERBOSE False
 
         # Batch size
         BATCH_SIZE "1"
diff --git a/local.conf b/local.conf
index 15a79a2..f922cde 100644
--- a/local.conf
+++ b/local.conf
@@ -15,5 +15,5 @@ enable_plugin "ceilometer" "${GIT_BASE:-https://git.openstack.org}/openstack/cei
 
 # Setup collectd-ceilometer plugin
 COLLECTD_INSTALL=True
-COLLECTD_CEILOMETER_VERBOSE=True
+COLLECTD_CEILOMETER_VERBOSE=False
 enable_plugin "collectd-ceilometer-plugin" "${GIT_BASE:-https://git.openstack.org}/openstack/collectd-ceilometer-plugin.git"
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/bug-1664937-0ae3be29c6f4df97.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/bug-1664937-0ae3be29c6f4df97.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ade6001
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/bug-1664937-0ae3be29c6f4df97.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+---
+fixes:
+  - Fixes bug 'https://launchpad.net/bugs/1664973'
+    VERBOSE parameter is read and used again
+    Initial log level was fixed, so configuration is properly logged.
+    Initial VERBOSE changed to False, to avoid too much verbosity.