Vicinity Energy, LLC 401(k) Review & Grade
Vicinity Energy Employees 401(k) Plan
Boston, MAUtilities535 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$4,419Employer $ per active participant
$11,094Employee $ saved per active participant
0.07%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$99.4MNet plan assets, end of year
$169,839Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity12.2 / 5024th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost20.2 / 2581th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving6.9 / 1546th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-10 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score32 / 100 · Grade D
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Utilities plans with 500–2,499 active participants (75 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 24th |
| Lower admin cost | 81th |
| Employee saving | 46th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 76% |
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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 ($280,039 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Vicinity Energy put in about $4,419 per active participant, below the typical peer ($6,264). Any match is still an instant return, so contribute enough to get all of it.
- 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 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 | $2,363,985 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $5,935,122 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $913,681 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $67,526 |
| Contract administrator fees | $300 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $13,962 |
| Benefits paid out | $8,075,024 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $87.7M / $99.4M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 523 / 547 |
| Participants with account balances | 585 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Caron & Bletzer, PLLC |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Fidelity Investments Institutional | $40,712 reported compensation |
| Strategic Advisors, Inc. | $13,962 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251014142331NAL0001496259001, received 2025-10-14, EIN 38-3680309, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.