Techniques for controlling packet transmission levels in a multi-hop network may be performed in a distributed manner. Load-control functionality may be distributed among a plurality of nodes within a network, allowing such nodes to send feedback to upstream nodes, and receive feedback from downstream nodes. In an example, received packets are measured, such as by summing sizes of received packets over time, to determine a received traffic-level. Transmitted packets are measured, such as by summing sizes of transmitted packets over time, to determine a transmitted traffic-level. Feedback may be sent to at least one source of the received packets based at least in part on the received traffic-level and the transmitted traffic-level. The feedback may indicate a desired rate for the sender to transmit. A node may receive data from upstream node(s) and from an internal device, such as a metrology unit. Both data sources may be controlled by feedback.