The EMF 17 working group is an international forum of leading experts and advisors working to understand, through modeling and analysis of different country experiences, how prices will be determined within a competitive electricity industry and how these developments will affect regional electricity generation and power flows, fuel markets, and the environment. The group focuses on understanding the longer-term price and environmental risks rather than on trying to predict short-run electricity prices. 

A major objective is to bring together in a non-partisan environment leading experts with those individuals charged with implementing the changes either in the public or private sector. The study also allows opportunities to coordinate activities being conducted at different institutions.