Utility meter with solar-powered real-time clock

A method for powering a real-time clock (RTC) of a utility meter, the method comprising:

• running, by the utility meter, an RTC configured to keep time utilized for time stamps applicable to events that occur during alternating current (AC) power outages of the utility meter;
• charging, by a power supply of the utility meter when the power supply is active due to receiving a sufficient AC line voltage, a supercapacitor configured to power the RTC;
• powering, by the supercapacitor, the RTC based on energy provided by the power supply;
• charging, by a set of photodiodes, the supercapacitor based on energy absorbed from ambient light;
• and
• powering, by the supercapacitor when the power supply is inactive, the RTC based on energy provided by the photodiodes.

A method comprising:

• installing in a device a real-time clock (RTC) configured to keep time utilized for time stamps applicable to events that occur during alternating current (AC) power outages of the device;
• installing in the device a supercapacitor configured to power the RTC;
• installing in the device a power supply configured to operate in an active mode responsive to an AC line voltage meeting a threshold and further configured, in the active mode, to charge the supercapacitor to power the RTC;
• and
• installing in the device a set of photodiodes configured to absorb energy from ambient light and to charge the supercapacitor to power the RTC;
• wherein the supercapacitor is configured to charge based on the power supply and based on the set of photodiodes;
• and
• wherein the device is utilizable as a utility meter.