<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-21.1
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>h83580ex21-1.txt
<DESCRIPTION>SUBSIDIARIES OF THE COMPANY
<TEXT>

<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 21.1


                     SUBSIDIARIES OF POWELL INDUSTRIES, INC.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

NAME OF DOMESTIC SUBSIDIARY                            STATE OF INCORPORATION
---------------------------                            ----------------------

<S>                                                    <C>
Delta-Unibus Corp.                                     Illinois
Powell Electrical Manufacturing Co.                    Delaware
     Powell Power Electronics Company, Inc.            Delaware
Powell-Process Systems, Inc. (Inactive)                Utah
Powell-ESCO Company                                    Texas
Unibus, Inc.                                           Ohio
Powell Energy Systems Inc. (Inactive)                  Nevada
Transdyn Controls, Inc.                                California
Traction Power Systems, Inc                            Delaware
</TABLE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

NAME OF FOREIGN SUBSIDIARY                             COUNTRY OF INCORPORATION
--------------------------                             ------------------------

<S>                                                    <C>
Powell Foreign Sales Corporation                       Barbados, West Indies
</TABLE>


</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>