diff --git a/crates/core/src/power.rs b/crates/core/src/power.rs
index 37000f0..d2fbdba 100644
--- a/crates/core/src/power.rs
+++ b/crates/core/src/power.rs
@@ -14,9 +14,61 @@ pub enum PowerState {
     Unknown,
 }
 
+use std::fs;
+use std::path::Path;
+
+/// Parse a `/sys/class/power_supply/`-style directory and decide
+/// whether the machine is on AC, on battery, or in an unknown state.
+///
+/// Rules (matches `Documentation/ABI/testing/sysfs-class-power`):
+/// - Any entry with `type` in {`Mains`, `USB`} and `online == 1` → OnAc.
+/// - Else any entry with `type == Battery` → OnBattery.
+/// - Else → Unknown.
+///
+/// Failures (missing dir, unreadable files, malformed contents) all
+/// fall through to Unknown rather than panicking. `Unknown` is treated
+/// as `OnAc` by the caller, which preserves today's pre-clamp
+/// behaviour on platforms or distros where the probe doesn't fire.
+pub fn parse_power_state_from_dir(supply_dir: &Path) -> PowerState {
+    let read_dir = match fs::read_dir(supply_dir) {
+        Ok(rd) => rd,
+        Err(_) => return PowerState::Unknown,
+    };
+
+    let mut saw_battery = false;
+    for entry in read_dir.flatten() {
+        let path = entry.path();
+        let ty = read_trimmed(&path.join("type")).unwrap_or_default();
+        let online = read_trimmed(&path.join("online")).unwrap_or_default();
+        match ty.as_str() {
+            "Mains" | "USB" => {
+                if online == "1" {
+                    return PowerState::OnAc;
+                }
+            }
+            "Battery" => {
+                saw_battery = true;
+            }
+            _ => {}
+        }
+    }
+
+    if saw_battery {
+        PowerState::OnBattery
+    } else {
+        PowerState::Unknown
+    }
+}
+
+fn read_trimmed(path: &Path) -> Option<String> {
+    fs::read_to_string(path).ok().map(|s| s.trim().to_owned())
+}
+
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     use super::*;
+    use std::fs;
+    use tempfile::tempdir;
 
     #[test]
     fn power_state_variants_are_distinct() {
@@ -24,4 +76,56 @@ mod tests {
         assert_ne!(PowerState::OnAc, PowerState::Unknown);
         assert_ne!(PowerState::OnBattery, PowerState::Unknown);
     }
+
+    fn write_supply(dir: &std::path::Path, name: &str, ty: &str, online: &str) {
+        let entry = dir.join(name);
+        fs::create_dir_all(&entry).unwrap();
+        fs::write(entry.join("type"), format!("{ty}\n")).unwrap();
+        fs::write(entry.join("online"), format!("{online}\n")).unwrap();
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn parses_mains_online_as_on_ac() {
+        let dir = tempdir().unwrap();
+        write_supply(dir.path(), "AC", "Mains", "1");
+        write_supply(dir.path(), "BAT0", "Battery", "0");
+        assert_eq!(parse_power_state_from_dir(dir.path()), PowerState::OnAc);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn parses_battery_only_as_on_battery() {
+        let dir = tempdir().unwrap();
+        write_supply(dir.path(), "AC", "Mains", "0");
+        write_supply(dir.path(), "BAT0", "Battery", "0");
+        assert_eq!(parse_power_state_from_dir(dir.path()), PowerState::OnBattery);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn parses_usb_pd_online_as_on_ac() {
+        let dir = tempdir().unwrap();
+        write_supply(dir.path(), "ucsi-source-psy-USBC000:001", "USB", "1");
+        write_supply(dir.path(), "BAT0", "Battery", "0");
+        assert_eq!(parse_power_state_from_dir(dir.path()), PowerState::OnAc);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn parses_empty_dir_as_unknown() {
+        let dir = tempdir().unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(parse_power_state_from_dir(dir.path()), PowerState::Unknown);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn parses_missing_dir_as_unknown() {
+        let path = std::path::Path::new("/no/such/path/should/exist/at/this/inode/123456");
+        assert_eq!(parse_power_state_from_dir(path), PowerState::Unknown);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn parses_malformed_files_as_unknown_gracefully() {
+        let dir = tempdir().unwrap();
+        let entry = dir.path().join("garbage");
+        fs::create_dir_all(&entry).unwrap();
+        // No type, no online — should not panic.
+        assert_eq!(parse_power_state_from_dir(dir.path()), PowerState::Unknown);
+    }
 }