UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                  SCHEDULE 13D

                    Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                             (Amendment No. ______)*

                             POWELL INDUSTRIES, INC.
                                (Name of Issuer)

                          COMMON STOCK, $0.01 PAR VALUE
                         (Title of Class of Securities)

                                    739128106
                                 (CUSIP Number)

                                THOMAS W. POWELL
                    8550 MOSLEY DRIVE, HOUSTON, TEXAS 77075
                                  713-944-6900
           (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to
                       Receive Notices and Communications)

                                 MARCH 11, 1977
           (Date of Event Which Requires the Filing of this Statement)

If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report
the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this
schedule because of Sections 240.13d-l(e), 240.13d-l(f) or 240.13d-l(g), check
the following box. [ ]

*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and
for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act
but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the
Notes).





Cusip No. 739128106


                                                                                            
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    1.   Name of Reporting Person
         I. R. S. Identification Nos. of Above Persons (entities only)

         Thomas W. Powell

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    2.   Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions)                      (a)    [ ]
                                                                                                  (b)    [ ]
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    3.   SEC Use Only

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    4.   Source of Funds (See Instructions):                                                          PF, OO

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    5.   Check if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e)             [ ]

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    6.   Citizenship or Place of Organization:                                                 United States

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                        7.     Sole Voting Power                                                   2,737,542
Number of Shares
Beneficially            8.     Shared Voting Power                                                 321,097
Owned by Each
Reporting Person        9.     Sole Dispositive Power                                              2,724,542
With:
                        10.    Shared Dispositive Power                                            321,097

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    11.  Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person                              3,058,639

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    12.  Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions)            [ ]

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    13.  Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11)                                        28.9%

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    14.  Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)                                               IN

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Cusip No. 73912806


ITEM 1.  SECURITY AND ISSUER

         The class of equity securities to which this Statement relates is the
common stock, $0.01 par value per share (the "Common Stock"), of Powell
Industries, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the "Issuer"). The principal executive
offices of the Issuer are located at 8550 Mosley Drive, Houston, Texas 77075.

ITEM 2.  IDENTITY AND BACKGROUND

         This Statement is being filed by Thomas W. Powell, a citizen of the
United States. The business address of Mr. Powell is 8550 Mosley Drive, Houston,
Texas 77075. The principal occupation of Mr. Powell is serving as the Chairman
of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Issuer.

         During the last five years, Mr. Powell has not been convicted in a
criminal proceeding, nor has he been a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial
or administrative body of competent jurisdiction and as a result of such a
proceeding was or is subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining
future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, federal
or state securities laws or finding any violation with respect to such laws.

ITEM 3.  SOURCE AND AMOUNT OF FUNDS OR OTHER CONSIDERATION

         Mr. Powell acquired beneficial ownership of the Issuer's shares through
exercises of stock options using his personal funds, participation in the
Issuer's employee benefit plans and participation in estate planning
transactions involving his family members.

ITEM 4.  PURPOSE OF TRANSACTION

         Mr. Powell acquired beneficial ownership of the shares of the Issuer's
Common Stock for investment purposes. Depending on market conditions, the terms
of the Issuer's equity compensation and employee benefit plans and other matters
he deems material, Mr. Powell may acquire or dispose of additional shares of the
Issuer's Common Stock, so long as it meets his personal investment criteria.
Except as set forth in this Item 4, Mr. Powell does not have any present plans
which would result in any of the actions enumerated in clauses (a) -- (j) of
Item 4 of Schedule 13D.

ITEM 5.  INTEREST IN SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER

         Mr. Powell is the beneficial owner of an aggregate of 3,058,639 shares
of the Issuer's Common Stock, representing 28.9% of the shares of the Issuer's
Common Stock outstanding (based on the number of shares of the Issuer's Common
Stock outstanding on January 20, 2003, as disclosed in the Issuer's Proxy
Statement on Schedule 14A for the Issuer's 2003 Annual Meeting).

         Mr. Powell has sole voting power and sole investment power with respect
to 2,724,542 of such shares, of which 85,150 are held directly, 78,720 are held
by Mr. Powell's IRA, 2,493,792 are held by TWP Holdings, Ltd., a partnership
controlled by Mr. Powell and 66,880 are shares subject to stock options which
are currently exercisable by Mr. Powell.

         Mr. Powell's total holdings also include 317,360 shares held by the
Thomas Walker Powell Trust, of which Mr. Powell is a co-trustee and shares
voting and investment power with respect to the shares held by such trust with
the other co-trustees, Michael W. Powell and Holly C. Powell Arnold. Neither
Michael Powell nor Holly Arnold is presently employed by any corporation or
other organization and, therefore, neither has a principal business address.
Both Michael Powell and Holly Arnold are citizens of the United States. During
the last five years, neither Michael Powell nor Holly Arnold has been convicted
in a criminal proceeding, nor has either of them been a party to a civil
proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction and as
a result of such a proceeding was or is subject to a judgment, decree or final
order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities
subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding any violation with
respect to such laws.

         Mr. Powell's total holdings also include 2,818 shares allocated to the
account of Mr. Powell under the Issuer's Employee Stock Ownership Plan (the
"ESOP") and 919 shares held in trust for the account of Mr. Powell under the




Cusip No. 73912806


Issuer's Employees Incentive Savings Plan (the "401(k) Plan"). Nationwide Trust
Company, FSB ("Nationwide") is the Trustee of the ESOP and, as directed by the
administrative committee for the ESOP appointed by the Board of Directors of the
Issuer, votes and disposes of shares not allocated to the accounts of
participants, and votes allocated shares as to which no direction is received
from the participant. Participants in the ESOP have the right to direct the
voting and disposition of shares allocated to their accounts. Nationwide is also
the Trustee of the 401(k) Plan and votes shares as to which no direction is
received from the participant. Nationwide is a Federal Savings Bank chartered by
the Office of Thrift Supervision by the U.S. Department of Treasury under the
Home Owners' Loan Act of 1933. Its principal business is a savings association,
as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the address
of its principal offices is 98 San Jacinto Blvd., Suite 1100, Austin, Texas
78701. During the last five years, Nationwide has not been convicted in a
criminal proceeding, and has not been a party to a civil proceeding of a
judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction and as a result of
such a proceeding was or is subject to a judgment, decree or final order
enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject
to, federal or state securities laws or finding any violation with respect to
such laws.

         Finally, Mr. Powell's total holdings also include 13,000 shares of
restricted stock issued in connection with the exercise of options by Mr. Powell
that are subject to forfeiture if the related option shares are not held for
five years or if he leaves employment of the Issuer, other than for retirement,
within five years after receiving the shares. Mr. Powell has sole voting rights
but no investment power with respect to such restricted stock.

ITEM 6.  CONTRACT, ARRANGEMENTS, UNDERSTANDINGS OR RELATIONSHIPS WITH RESPECT TO
         SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER.

         Not applicable.

ITEM 7.  MATERIAL TO BE FILED AS EXHIBITS

         Not applicable.



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Cusip No. 73912806


                                    SIGNATURE

         After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief,
the Reporting Person certifies that the information set forth in this statement
is true, complete and correct.


                                             Dated as of July 2, 2003



                                             /s/ THOMAS W. POWELL
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Thomas W. Powell