The Act clause 4 (1) defines the OUR’s functions as:

"It shall be the duty of the Office to receive and process all applications for a licence to provide any utility service required by virtue of the provisions of any Act, and to make such recommendations to the responsible Minister in relation to the application as the Office considers necessary or desirable".

Clause 4 (4) establishes the powers of the Office as being:

1. to enquire into the nature and extent of the utility services provided by an approved organisation, or, as the case may be, proposed to be approved by an applicant for a licence;
2. to determine, in accordance with the provisions of this Act and any enabling instrument and to enforce the provisions of the enabling instrument and, if the Office thinks necessary, propose for the consideration of the responsible Minister, recommendations for the modification of that instrument;
3. to monitor the operations of an approved organisation in relation to its enabling instrument and to enforce the provisions of the enabling instrument and, if the Office thinks necessary, propose for the consideration of the responsible minister, recommendations for the modification of that instrument;
4. to specify in a licence financial penalties which may be incurred by a licensee consequent on the breach by the licensee of any term of the licence, and stipulate the manner in which the penalty may be recovered from the licensee; and
5. to perform such other functions as may be conferred on it by any enabling instrument.