According to the City of Portland’s Code & Charter, Title 3, Chapter 3.123 Portland Utility Review Board, the PURB shall perform the following functions: 

1. Participation in the financial planning process. The Portland Water Bureau, the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, and the Bureau of Environmental Services use multi-year financial planning to prioritize programs and to project operating and capital costs associated with policies and programs, and to estimate overall rate impacts. The bureaus update their financial plans throughout the year to reflect significant changes in revenues or requirements, and re-do the plans annually. The Board will review the proposed financial plans and revisions, and submit its findings and recommendations to the Council as part of the City's annual financial planning process.
   
2. Participation in the rate design process. The Board will make recommendations to the Council on the equitable distribution of rate adjustments among customer classes, as determined in the rate design process. The Board will report on proposed rate changes to the Council during the annual budget hearings and development processes for water, sanitary sewer, stormwater, and solid waste rates. The Board will also participate in the periodic review and analysis of alternative rate designs proposed by Council. The Board shall report on other city activities or proposed policies with significant impacts to water, sewer and solid waste rates.
   
3. Relationship to other citizen advisory groups. The Council and the bureaus may form other groups, as necessary, to advise on utility matters. The Board and its staff will exchange information with these other advisory groups to coordinate policy advice to the Council and the bureaus.
   
4. Relationship to other interested parties. The Board’s primary responsibility and duties are to advise the Council, and its deliberations and recommendations shall be directed to Council accordingly. The Board may also share the results of its deliberations and recommendations delivered to Council with interested individuals and groups including neighborhoods, business associations, and public interest groups.