(a)Transfer may be made to one or more of the following, if the transferee has the legal authority to receive and operate the utility.
(1)the city at the community;
(2)the State in which the community is located;
(3)any political subdivision or agency of that State; or
(4)any person, firm, corporation, or other legal entity.
(b)In determining the transferee for any utility, the Commission may consider the following:
(1)the pattern of ownership of the comparable utilities in the State in which the community is located;
(2)the ability of the transferee to operate the utility;
(3)the probable price of the sale of the utility, the ability of the transferee to pay that price, and any probable expense;
(4)the desires of the eligible voters of the community as directly expressed in any vote in any officially recognized procedure or in any procedure established by the Commission; and
(5)the benefit to the United States in reducing possible requirements for local assistance as authorized in subchapters VII and VIII of this chapter.