diff --git a/src/dispatch/cost_model/models.py b/src/dispatch/cost_model/models.py
index 69e15f7417f2..878aa0b9936b 100644
--- a/src/dispatch/cost_model/models.py
+++ b/src/dispatch/cost_model/models.py
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ class CostModelActivity(Base):
     id = Column(Integer, primary_key=True)
     plugin_event_id = Column(Integer, ForeignKey(PluginEvent.id, ondelete="CASCADE"))
     plugin_event = relationship(PluginEvent, backref="plugin_event")
-    response_time_seconds = Column(Integer, default=300)
+    response_time_seconds = Column(Integer, default=0)
     enabled = Column(Boolean, default=True)
 
 
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ class CostModelActivityBase(DispatchBase):
     """Base class for cost model activity resources"""
 
     plugin_event: PluginEventRead
-    response_time_seconds: int | None = 300
+    response_time_seconds: int | None = None
     enabled: bool | None = Field(True, nullable=True)
 
 
diff --git a/src/dispatch/cost_model/service.py b/src/dispatch/cost_model/service.py
index 50568f68b79e..a1c02d14b534 100644
--- a/src/dispatch/cost_model/service.py
+++ b/src/dispatch/cost_model/service.py
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ def get_default(*, db_session, project_id: int) -> CostModel:
     return (
         db_session.query(CostModel)
         .filter(CostModel.project_id == project_id)
-        .order_by(CostModel.created_at.desc())
+        .order_by(CostModel.created_at.asc())
         .first()
     )
 
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ def update_cost_model_activity(*, db_session, cost_model_activity_in: CostModelA
         db_session=db_session, cost_model_activity_id=cost_model_activity_in.id
     )
 
-    cost_model_activity.response_time_seconds = cost_model_activity_in.response_time_seconds
+    cost_model_activity.response_time_seconds = 0
     cost_model_activity.enabled = cost_model_activity_in.enabled
     cost_model_activity.plugin_event_id = cost_model_activity_in.plugin_event.id
 
@@ -121,6 +121,8 @@ def update(*, db_session, cost_model_in: CostModelUpdate) -> CostModel:
         cost_model_in.updated_at if cost_model_in.updated_at else datetime.utcnow()
     )
 
+    cost_model.updated_at = cost_model.created_at
+
     # Update all recognized activities. Delete all removed activities.
     update_activities = []
     delete_activities = []
@@ -132,7 +134,6 @@ def update(*, db_session, cost_model_in: CostModelUpdate) -> CostModel:
                 update_activities.append((activity, activity_in))
                 cost_model_in.activities.pop(idx_in)
                 updated = True
-                break
         if updated:
             continue