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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 UpmxMBHyeXgkWjdpnWx3eLSgPlWwb0VFotHcHEY6P7R2Z+zu5DojeIP11jmSPyMr
 IhYcTmvRVs4fTRw2BzsB0w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-021615.txt : 20030915
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-021615.hdr.sgml : 20030915
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030915160458
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-021615
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030911
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030915

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:			WOLNY RONALD J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001222217

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12488
		FILM NUMBER:		03895850

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 1703
		CITY:			MEDINA
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			78055
		BUSINESS PHONE:		830 589 2610

	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>2003-09-11</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000080420</issuerCik><issuerName>POWELL INDUSTRIES INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>powl</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001222217</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>WOLNY RONALD J</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>PO BOX 1703</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>MEDINA</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>78055</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Sha
dow Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><footnoteId id="F1" /></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-09-11</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate><value>1998-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F2" /></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>43.76</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>18.28</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1998-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F3" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>1998-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F4" /></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><val
ue>43.76</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>43.76</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Shadow Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><footnoteId id="F1" /></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-09-12</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate><value>1998-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F2" /></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>54.65</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>18.09</value></transactionPricePerShare><transacti
onAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1998-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F3" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>1998-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F4" /></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>54.65</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>54.65</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">No conversion price is payable. Shadow Stock Units which were previously awarded in lieu of deferred director's fees automatically convert to shares of stock at the expiration of the deferral period.</footnote><footnote id="F2">The "deemed execution date" is not appli
cable to this transaction because the execution date has not been determined pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 16a-3(g)(2) or 16a-3(g)(3).</footnote><footnote id="F3">Upon retirement from the Board of Driectros or specified deferral term.</footnote><footnote id="F4">No expiration date is associated with Shadow Stock Units, they are released upon retirment from the Board of Directors or expiration of the deferral term.</footnote></footnotes><remarks></remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>Ronald J. Wolny</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-07-15</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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