diff --git a/src/main/java/org/jitsi/jicofo/Bridge.java b/src/main/java/org/jitsi/jicofo/Bridge.java
index 4a038a0a16..29771a3255 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/jitsi/jicofo/Bridge.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/jitsi/jicofo/Bridge.java
@@ -101,6 +101,11 @@ class Bridge
      */
     private int videoStreamCountDiff = 0;
 
+    /**
+     * The last reported bitrate in Kbps.
+     */
+    private int lastReportedBitrateKbps = 0;
+
     /**
      * Holds bridge version (if known - not all bridge version are capable of
      * reporting it).
@@ -154,6 +159,13 @@ void setStats(ColibriStatsExtension stats)
             setVideoStreamCount(videoStreamCount);
         }
 
+        Integer bitrateUpKbps = stats.getValueAsInt(STAT_NAME_BITRATE_UP);
+        Integer bitrateDownKbps = stats.getValueAsInt(STAT_NAME_BITRATE_DOWN);
+        if (bitrateUpKbps != null && bitrateDownKbps != null)
+        {
+            lastReportedBitrateKbps = bitrateDownKbps + bitrateUpKbps;
+        }
+
         setIsOperational(!Boolean.valueOf(stats.getValueAsString(
             JigasiDetector.STAT_NAME_SHUTDOWN_IN_PROGRESS)));
     }
@@ -249,7 +261,8 @@ private void verifyFailureThreshold()
     }
 
     /**
-     * The least value is returned the least the bridge is loaded.
+     * The least value is returned the least the bridge is loaded. Currently
+     * we use the bitrate to estimate load.
      * <p>
      * {@inheritDoc}
      */
@@ -268,8 +281,7 @@ else if (!meOperational && otherOperational)
             return 1;
         }
 
-        return this.getEstimatedVideoStreamCount()
-            - o.getEstimatedVideoStreamCount();
+        return this.lastReportedBitrateKbps - o.lastReportedBitrateKbps;
     }
 
     private int getEstimatedVideoStreamCount()