Industry · Form 5500 business code 221210
Natural Gas Distribution: retirement plans
Plans whose sponsor entered this principal business activity code on Form 5500.
Form 5500 information is as filed by the plan administrator with the Department of Labor and may be amended. Figures reflect the plan year shown, not current balances. The business code is chosen by the filer from the list in the Form 5500 instructions.
100 retirement plans in natural gas distribution with 100 or more participants filed Form 5500 for plan year 2024 (69 defined contribution, 31 defined benefit). All Form 5500 pension filers in the group reported 173,871 participant records and $27.3B in net assets.
The median defined contribution plan held $98,386 per participant, well above the national median of $53,031, and its employer put in $5,090 per active participant (national: $2,174). Among plans reporting Schedule C compensation the median was $122 per participant against $123 nationally.
Employers contributed $689M and participants $706M during the year, and the plans paid out $2.37B in benefits.
In 2009 the same group numbered 132 plans with $18.5B; by 2024 it was 100 plans (down 24%) and $27.3B (up 47%). From plan year 2023 the 100-participant line counts participants with account balances, which moved many plans to the short form.
Medians compared with all US plans
| Median plan, plan year 2024 | Industry: DC | US: DC | Industry: DB | US: DB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net assets per participant | $98,386 | $53,031 | $160,843 | $86,234 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $5,090 | $2,174 | $9,473 | $10,244 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $122 | $123 | $614 | $344 |
| Schedule C compensation, share of net assets | 0.15% | 0.26% | 0.31% | 0.42% |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $158 | $116 | $831 | $527 |
Medians across plans with 100 or more participants (68 DC and 31 DB plans with a Schedule H here). Fee medians cover plans reporting an amount. DC: defined contribution, such as 401(k) and 403(b). DB: defined benefit pension.
Distribution of DC plans
| Measure | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile | Plans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net assets per participant | $51,847 | $98,386 | $173,212 | 68 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $3,118 | $5,090 | $7,192 | 69 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $60.83 | $122 | $244 | 65 |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $67.15 | $158 | $255 | 67 |
Trend by plan year
| Plan year | Plans 100+ | Participants | Net assets | Employer contributions | Participant contributions | Median DC assets / participant | Median DC Sch. C / participant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025partial | 16 | 57,993 | $13.4B | $271M | $496M | $221,339 | $125 |
| 2024 | 100 | 173,871 | $27.3B | $689M | $706M | $98,386 | $122 |
| 2023 | 102 | 175,587 | $25.5B | $720M | $665M | $86,208 | $119 |
| 2022 | 103 | 178,563 | $23.2B | $729M | $617M | $70,503 | $131 |
| 2021 | 106 | 178,075 | $29.6B | $614M | $619M | $98,155 | $145 |
| 2020 | 112 | 183,028 | $28.2B | $986M | $607M | $84,149 | $134 |
| 2019 | 115 | 189,246 | $26.0B | $763M | $576M | $71,542 | $107 |
| 2018 | 118 | 186,595 | $22.2B | $710M | $523M | $57,658 | $113 |
| 2017 | 113 | 195,249 | $25.3B | $722M | $486M | $67,895 | $105 |
| 2016 | 123 | 213,474 | $24.6B | $693M | $493M | $63,690 | $71.75 |
| 2015 | 128 | 234,973 | $26.1B | $638M | $531M | $77,367 | $54.24 |
| 2014 | 134 | 239,531 | $28.7B | $735M | $496M | $81,054 | $44.16 |
| 2013 | 132 | 243,608 | $28.3B | $799M | $462M | $86,223 | $45.47 |
| 2012 | 135 | 219,886 | $25.0B | $911M | $402M | $80,324 | $37.74 |
| 2011 | 141 | 240,726 | $22.2B | $1.16B | $430M | $75,799 | $24.15 |
| 2010 | 142 | 239,690 | $21.4B | $1.22B | $393M | $73,024 | $34.03 |
| 2009 | 132 | 233,833 | $18.5B | $819M | $384M | $66,185 | $32.13 |
Plan year is the year in which the plan year began. The drop in large plans from 2023 follows a rule change: the 100-participant line now counts participants with account balances, so many plans moved to the short form.
Provider share
Service provider organisations named most often on the Schedule C of the 100 plans on this page's list, by number of plans. A plan usually names several providers.
Largest plans
The 40 largest by participants of 100 plans with a page on this site.
| Plan | Sponsor | State | Type | Participants | Net assets | Per participant | Employer / active | Sch. C / participant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kinder Morgan Retirement Plan B | Kinder Morgan, Inc. | TX | DB | 16,410 | $518M | $31,553 | $3,193 | $95.21 |
| Kinder Morgan Savings Plan | Kinder Morgan, Inc. | TX | DC | 16,121 | $3.23B | $200,540 | $5,257 | $227 |
| Southern California Gas Company Pension Plan | Southern California Gas Company | CA | DB | 12,106 | $2.36B | $194,679 | $11,072 | $462 |
| Nisource Inc. Retirement Savings Plan | Nisource Inc. | IN | DC | 10,216 | $2.35B | $230,469 | $7,957 | $11.73 |
| Southern California Gas Company Retirement Savings Plan | Southern California Gas Company | CA | DC | 10,206 | $3.26B | $319,803 | $4,029 | $46.00 |
| Kinder Morgan Retirement Plan a | Kinder Morgan, Inc. | TX | DB | 8,636 | $1.17B | $135,844 | $8,754 | $252 |
| Atmos Energy Corporation Retirement Savings Plan and Trust | Atmos Energy Corporation | TX | DC | 6,328 | $1.14B | $179,617 | $5,283 | $23.43 |
| One Gas, Inc. 401(k) Plan | One Gas, Inc. | OK | DC | 4,629 | $1.04B | $223,993 | $8,416 | — |
| Retirement Plan for Employees of Southwest Gas Corporation | Southwest Gas Corporation | NV | DB | 4,490 | $1.18B | $261,773 | $14,140 | $840 |
| Atmos Energy Corporation Pension Account Plan | Atmos Energy Corporation | TX | DB | 4,129 | $580M | $140,353 | — | $553 |
| Spire Employee Savings Plan | Spire Services Inc. | MO | DC | 4,063 | $777M | $191,235 | $4,711 | $61.04 |
| Ugi Utilities, Inc. Savings Plan | Ugi Utilities, Inc. | PA | DC | 3,662 | $714M | $194,933 | $4,627 | $82.57 |
| Washington Gas Light Company Employees' Pension Plan | Washington Gas Light Company | DC | DB | 3,400 | $763M | $224,491 | — | $599 |
| Retirement Income Plan for Employees of Ugi Utilities, Inc. | Ugi Utilities, Inc. | PA | DB | 3,210 | $516M | $160,843 | $25,607 | $321 |
| Southwest Gas Corporation Employees' Investment Plan | Southwest Gas Corporation | NV | DC | 2,983 | $693M | $232,337 | $4,710 | $99.76 |
| DCC 401(k) Retirement Plan | DCC LPG Holdings, Inc. | IL | DC | 2,913 | $143M | $49,118 | $2,431 | $97.06 |
| Columbia Energy Group Pension Plan | Nisource Inc. | IN | DB | 2,791 | $334M | $119,533 | — | $594 |
| Spire Missouri Employees' Retirement Plan | Spire Missouri Inc. | MO | DB | 2,745 | $201M | $73,345 | $8,868 | $210 |
| One Gas, Inc. Retirement Plan | One Gas, Inc. | OK | DB | 2,605 | $726M | $278,728 | $8,347 | $890 |
| Dte Gas Company Retirement Plan for Employees Covered by Collective Bargaining Agreements | Dte Energy Corporate Services, LLC | MI | DB | 2,275 | $425M | $186,779 | — | $175 |
| Par Petroleum LLC Savings Plan | Par Petroleum LLC | TX | DC | 2,037 | $248M | $121,706 | $7,938 | $200 |
| Cheniere Retirement Plan | Cheniere Energy, Inc. | TX | DC | 1,916 | $471M | $245,762 | $12,311 | $62.26 |
| Archrock 401(k) Plan | Archrock Services, L.P. | TX | DC | 1,806 | $200M | $110,658 | $5,403 | $151 |
| Igs Energy 401(k) Plan | Interstate Gas Supply, LLC | OH | DC | 1,746 | $129M | $73,760 | $3,912 | $57.27 |
| Northwest Natural Gas Company Retirement K Savings Plan | Northwest Natural Gas Company | OR | DC | 1,737 | $420M | $241,658 | $9,792 | $150 |
| Spire Retirement Income Plan | Spire Alabama Inc. | AL | DB | 1,677 | $140M | $83,223 | $38,197 | $280 |
| Retirement Plan for Bargaining Unit and Non-Bargaining Unit Employees of Northwest Natural Gas Company | Northwest Natural Gas Company | OR | DB | 1,640 | $287M | $174,854 | $42,254 | $841 |
| South Jersey Industries, Inc. 401(k) Plan | South Jersey Industries, Inc. | NJ | DC | 1,571 | $245M | $155,975 | $4,842 | $6.90 |
| Chesapeake Utilities Corporation Retirement Savings Plan | Chesapeake Utilities Corporation | DE | DC | 1,553 | $220M | $141,931 | $4,754 | $121 |
| Summit Utilities, Inc. 401(k) Plan | Summit Utilities, Inc. | AR | DC | 1,469 | $100M | $68,174 | $4,330 | $202 |
| Enlink Midstream Operating, LP 401(k) Trust | Enlink Midstream Operating, LP | TX | DC | 1,436 | $210M | $146,576 | $7,375 | $128 |
| The Blossman Companies, Inc. 401(k) Savings Plan | The Blossman Companies, Inc. | MS | DC | 1,349 | $69.8M | $51,765 | $1,872 | $182 |
| Washington Gas Light Company Savings Plan | Washington Gas Light Company | DC | DC | 1,337 | $343M | $256,692 | $10,021 | $354 |
| NGL Energy 401(k) Plan | NGL Energy Holdings, LLC | OK | DC | 1,248 | $117M | $93,930 | $5,161 | $159 |
| Vectren Corporation Combined Non-Bargaining Retirement Plan | Vectren, LLC | IN | DB | 1,109 | $70.6M | $63,643 | — | $434 |
| Washington Gas Light Company Cap Appr Plan/union | Washington Gas Light Company | DC | DC | 1,109 | $148M | $133,457 | $5,195 | $392 |
| Riveron Consulting LLC 401(k) Plan | Riveron Consulting, LLC | TX | DC | 1,102 | $122M | $110,580 | $5,475 | $63.77 |
| Magnolia River International 401(k) Plan | Magnolia River International | AL | DC | 968 | $43.0M | $44,371 | $2,572 | $50.13 |
| Spire Missouri West Retirement Income Plan | Spire Missouri Inc. | MO | DB | 825 | $84.7M | $102,696 | $10,078 | — |
| Clean Energy 401(k) Plan | Clean Energy | CA | DC | 738 | $75.9M | $102,841 | $3,118 | $118 |
By plan size
By state
Questions and answers
How many retirement plans are there in natural gas distribution?
100 plans with 100 or more participants filed Form 5500 for plan year 2024, out of 121 pension plans on the full form. Smaller plans file Form 5500-SF and are counted separately where shown.
What is the typical 401(k) balance in natural gas distribution?
The median defined contribution plan reported $98,386 in net assets per participant (middle half of plans: $51,847 to $173,212); nationally it was $53,031. This is a plan-level average that includes former employees, not a typical person's balance.
What do employers contribute in natural gas distribution?
The median defined contribution plan received $5,090 in employer contributions per active participant, against $2,174 nationally. Plans with no employer contribution are included at zero.
What are average 401(k) fees in natural gas distribution?
Among defined contribution plans that report any Schedule C compensation, the median was $122 per participant and 0.15% of net assets (nationally $123 and 0.26%). Schedule C leaves out fund expense ratios and fees the employer pays, so it understates total cost.
Where does this come from?
Form 5500 annual reports in the EBSA research files, with filings received through 24 Aug 2026. Medians are computed by this site across plans with 100 or more participants.
Provenance
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration, Form 5500 research files, public domain, with filings received through 24 Aug 2026. Totals count every pension plan on the full form; medians and the plan list cover plans with 100 or more participants. See the methodology.