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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 BCBY+pZf+uQqI2TYCNIkSPrzxKewo/JYuxClCQJq3Amb5eQvfrWTfVG5Aanb83wV
 GVDNswHOJsxH9qG9AnZQcA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-008769.txt : 20030626
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-008769.hdr.sgml : 20030626
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030626115916
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-008769
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030625
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030626

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			POWELL INDUSTRIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000080420
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SWITCHGEAR & SWITCHBOARD APPARATUS [3613]
		IRS NUMBER:				880106100
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NV
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1031

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8550 MOSLEY DR
		STREET 2:		POST OFFICE BOX 12818
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77075
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7139446900

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8550 MOSLEY DRIVE P O BOX 12818
		STREET 2:		8550 MOSLEY DRIVE P O BOX 12818
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77075

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	PROCESS SYSTEMS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19780926

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BUTLER EUGENE L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001222222

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12488
		FILM NUMBER:		03757992

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		14505 TORREY CHASE
		STREET 2:		STE 325
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77014
		BUSINESS PHONE:		713 467 7449

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 12818
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77217
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 SUBMISSION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-06-25</periodOfReport><issuer><issuerCik>0000080420</issuerCik><issuerName>POWELL INDUSTRIES INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>powl</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001222222</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>BUTLER EUGENE L</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle></officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Directors Stock Options (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePr
ice><value>15.1</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-06-25</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>15.1</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2004-06-25</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-06-25</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>2000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><valueOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>6000</value></valueOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionA
mounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Becomes exercisable on the first anniversary of 06/25/2003, the date of the grant.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Eugene L. Butler</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-06-26</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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