Essential Utilities, Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
Essential Utilities, Inc. 401(k) Plan
Bryn Mawr, PAUtilities3,359 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$7,600Employer $ per active participant
$8,161Employee $ saved per active participant
0.15%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$623.5MNet plan assets, end of year
$156,263Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity31.1 / 5062th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost10.8 / 2543th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving4.5 / 1530th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-13 pts2 issues reported on the filing
Total score43 / 100 · Grade D
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Utilities plans with 2,500–9,999 active participants (38 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 62th |
| Lower admin cost | 43th |
| Employee saving | 30th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 82% |
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Red flags from the filing
Late deposits: the filing says some employee contributions were not sent to the plan on time ($4,281 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $16,230 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Essential Utilities put in about $7,600 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($6,490). Contribute at least enough to collect the full match. Skipping it leaves part of your pay on the table.
- The filing shows total dollars, not the match formula. Ask HR for the Summary Plan Description so you know the exact match and vesting schedule.
- Fund expense ratios aren't in the filing. Look them up in your 404(a)(5) fee disclosure and favor low-cost index or target-date funds.
- The plan auto-enrolls employees. Check your default contribution rate. Defaults are often lower than what it takes to get the full match.
- The plan reported late deposits of employee contributions. Compare your pay stubs with your account statements, and contact the plan administrator if money shows up late.
- Changing jobs? You can usually leave the money in the plan, move it to your new employer's plan, or roll it into an IRA. Don't cash out: you'd owe taxes and possibly a 10% penalty.
The raw numbers from the filing
| Employer contributions | $25,529,388 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $27,413,375 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $5,030,634 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $893,098 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $525,745 |
| Other admin expenses | $146,565 |
| Benefits paid out | $54,494,715 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $558.4M / $623.5M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 3,270 / 3,448 |
| Participants with account balances | 3,990 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Schneider Downs & Co., Inc. |
| Employer stock held by plan | $39,798,740 |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Newport Capital Group, LLC | $263,813 reported compensation |
| Fidelity Investments Institutional | $222,216 reported compensation |
| Strategic Advisors, Inc. | $96,120 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251008144354NAL0009627328001, received 2025-10-08, EIN 23-1702594, plan #005, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.