One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for setting uplink power-control parameters for a cell within a wireless network. During operation, the system receives parameters associated with uplink power for a plurality of user devices within the cell over a predetermined time interval, and averages the received parameters over the user devices and the predetermined time interval to obtain an averaged parameter. The system then determines a set of power-control parameters for the cell based on the averaged parameter, and sends the set of power-control parameters to the user devices to allow the user devices to control transmission power using the set of power-control parameters.