LEWISTON – City officials are keeping their eyes on neighboring Auburn’s heating oil purchasing program and could duplicate it.

“We have concerns about it, and we’re not sure where it will end up,” Councilor Tom Peters said Tuesday. “But if they get a response from oil dealers, we could look at doing something similar.”

Both cities are part of an aggregate oil purchasing cooperative, along with Twin Cities schools, Androscoggin County and the towns of Poland and Minot. That cooperative reserves about 1.1 million gallons of heating oil each year, locking a price in the spring when the cost of oil is generally lower.

Auburn’s City Council decided to let residents in on the deal earlier this month. At least 400 registered with the city to join that program, agreeing to purchase an average 1,000 gallons per household.

Residents hoping to participate in Auburn’s program will have to meet the oil vendor’s payment criteria, which could include a credit check and signing up for automatic oil deliveries. Auburn officials said Monday they are expecting to get two prices from oil companies – one for the cities, and a second, higher price for those with smaller 275-gallon tanks.

Lewiston officials said they’re not ready to duplicate the program, yet.

“But we haven’t shut the door on it,” Assistant City Administrator Phil Nadeau said. “We should know later this week if it’s going to be successful.”