diff --git a/bin/displayctl b/bin/displayctl
index 73cafed..99de76f 100755
--- a/bin/displayctl
+++ b/bin/displayctl
@@ -1,8 +1,17 @@
 #!/bin/sh
-DISPLAY_STATUS=$(xrandr | grep DP-2)
 
-if [ "$DISPLAY_STATUS" = *"1440x3440"* ]; then
-  xrandr --output DP-2 --off
-else
-  init_displays
-fi
+# unused for now, repurposing for ddcutil control
+#DISPLAY_STATUS=$(xrandr | grep DP-2)
+#
+#if [ "$DISPLAY_STATUS" = *"1440x3440"* ]; then
+#  xrandr --output DP-2 --off
+#else
+#  init_displays
+#fi
+
+case $1 in
+  "brightness")
+    ddcutil setvcp 10 $2;;
+  "contrast")
+    ddcutil setvcp 12 $2;;
+esac
diff --git a/bin/st-power b/bin/st-power
index f1ad8df..81e0513 100755
--- a/bin/st-power
+++ b/bin/st-power
@@ -2,13 +2,24 @@
 
 # for UPS monitoring with NUT 
 #
-#POWER="$(upsc titanium-power@localhost | grep ups.realpower: | awk '{print $2}')W"
-#CHARGE="$(upsc titanium-power@localhost | grep battery.charge: | awk '{print $2}')%"
-#if [ "$CHARGE" = "100%" ]; then
-#  echo $POWER
-#else
-#  echo "$CHARGE $POWER"
-#fi
+DATA_CMD="upsc ups@localhost"
+
+# on debian and freebsd, ups.realpower is not available.
+# calculate load in watts with load percent and max output instead.
+MAX_OUTPUT=$($DATA_CMD | grep ups.realpower.nominal: | awk '{print $2}')
+LOAD_VALUE=$($DATA_CMD | grep ups.load: | awk '{print $2}')
+LOAD_PERCENT=$(echo "scale=2; $LOAD_VALUE/100" | bc)
+POWER=$(echo "scale=0; $LOAD_PERCENT*$MAX_OUTPUT" | bc)
+
+# "round" to integer. just removes decimal and whatevers after.
+POWER="${POWER%.*} W"
+CHARGE="$($DATA_CMD | grep battery.charge: | awk '{print $2}')%"
+
+if [ "$CHARGE" = "100%" ]; then
+  echo $POWER
+else
+  echo "$CHARGE $POWER"
+fi
 
 # for battery monitoring everywhere else
 #
@@ -17,14 +28,9 @@
 #CURRENT=$(cat /sys/class/power_supply/BAT*/current_now)
 #POWER=$(echo "scale=2; $VOLTAGE*$CURRENT/1000000000000" | bc)
 
-# freebsd
-#CHARGE=$(acpiconf -i 0 | grep "Remaining capacity" | awk '{print $3}')
-#POWER_RAW=$(acpiconf -i 0 | grep "Present rate:" | awk '{print $3}')
-#POWER="$(echo "scale=1; $POWER_RAW/1000" | bc)W"
-
 # if it is present, just divide it to watts (from micro watts on thinkpads, perhaps something else on other platforms)
-POWER=$(cat /sys/class/power_supply/BAT*/power_now)
-POWER="$(echo "scale=2; $POWER/1000000" | bc)W"
-CHARGE="$(cat /sys/class/power_supply/BAT*/capacity)%"
+#POWER=$(cat /sys/class/power_supply/BAT*/power_now)
+#POWER="$(echo "scale=2; $POWER/1000000" | bc)W"
+#CHARGE="$(cat /sys/class/power_supply/BAT*/capacity)%"
 
-echo "$CHARGE $POWER"
+#echo "$CHARGE $POWER"