# Snowy Hydro 2.0 executives awarded bonuses totalling $751,925 despite cost blowout

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/snowy-hydro-2-0-executives-awarded-bonuses-totalling-751925-despite-cost-blowout/
- Published: 2026-11-03T14:00:44+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-03T23:06:05+00:00
- Original publisher: The Guardian (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/nov/04/snowy-hydro-20-executives-awarded-bonuses-totalling-751925-despite-cost-blowout
- Topics: Business, Climate, Companies, Science, Software, Technology, World

## Key points

- Snowy Hydro executives received $751,925 in bonuses.
- Dennis Barnes chose not to take a bonus.
- Snowy 2.0 could cost taxpayers up to $25bn.

## Summary

Snowy Hydro executives received $751,925 in bonuses during the 2025-26 financial year, even as the Snowy 2.0 project’s cost rose far beyond its original estimate. Chief executive Dennis Barnes declined a cash bonus, while the payments have drawn attention because the project is expected to cost taxpayers up to $25bn.

The company’s chief financial officer received $215,440, its chief operating officer $255,570 and its chief commercial officer $280,915. Snowy 2.0, proposed in 2017 at $2bn, is now expected to be completed and fully commissioned in 2029. Separately, CSIRO chief executive Doug Hilton received a $198,517 performance payment as the agency cut more than 1,100 jobs over two years.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.