Western Power has appointed former Under Treasurer Michael Barnes as its new Deputy Chair.
The appointment signals a focus on economic governance and network reform as Western Australia scales up renewable energy investment.
Barnes, who served as the State’s top Treasury official for more than a decade, brings deep fiscal expertise to the board of the State-owned utility responsible for the South West Interconnected System.
His appointment comes at a time when the network’s role in integrating large-scale renewables is becoming more critical.
Energy and Decarbonisation Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson announced the appointment, describing Barnes as “uniquely placed to drive Western Power through this critical period in the State’s energy transition”.
Western Power’s grid is central to WA’s clean energy transformation, enabling the connection of new wind, solar and storage projects. Strengthening the network is also essential to decarbonising industry and electrifying transport in line with the State’s emissions targets.
The announcement coincides with the departure of long-standing board member Eva Skira, whose term ended this month. Sanderson acknowledged Skira’s service and thanked her “for her contribution to the organisation over many years”.
Barnes’ appointment is expected to support more rigorous oversight of infrastructure investment and regulatory strategy, amid rising demand for grid upgrades to accommodate renewable generation and distributed energy resources.