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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,
 Mg1pufH2cMZ8GjmTzq2Yb1kHAikIWN1jqRRj+m8n3LM+Qy6A/NKHNA2Q2gn8oCrh
 3Mw1FoRdV49GLpQBJUBhwg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-019834.txt : 20030903
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-019834.hdr.sgml : 20030903
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030903093541
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-019834
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030902
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030903

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:			SEALE STEPHEN W JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001222308

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12488
		FILM NUMBER:		03877596

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 12818
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77217
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8307792834

	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>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-09-02</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000080420</issuerCik><issuerName>POWELL INDUSTRIES INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>powl</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001222308</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>SEALE STEPHEN W JR</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>PO BOX 790</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>LAVERNIA</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>78121-0790</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><security
Title><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-09-02</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>8100</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>19</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3453</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-09-02</value></
transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>400</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>19.01</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3053</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes></footnotes><remarks></remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>Stephen W. Seale, Jr.</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-09-03</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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