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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000950129-09-001110.txt : 20090728
<SEC-HEADER>0000950129-09-001110.hdr.sgml : 20090728
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090401165817
<PRIVATE-TO-PUBLIC>
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000950129-09-001110
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	CORRESP
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090401

FILER:

	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:			0930

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		CORRESP

	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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>CORRESP
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>filename1.htm
<TEXT>
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>corresp</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
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<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><IMG src="h66329ch6632901.gif" alt="(POWELL LOGO)">
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">April&nbsp;1, 2009

</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt"><U><B>VIA FED EX AND EDGAR</B></U>

</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">Mr.&nbsp;Kevin L. Vaughn<BR>
United States Securities and Exchange Commission<BR>
Division of Corporation Finance<BR>
100 F Street, NE<BR>
Washington, D.C. 20549

</DIV>

<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="1%" nowrap align="left"><B>Re:</B>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD><B>Powell Industries, Inc.<BR>
Form&nbsp;10-K for the fiscal year ended September&nbsp;30, 2008</B><BR><B>
File No.&nbsp;1-12488</B></TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">Dear Mr.&nbsp;Vaughn:

</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">In response to your letter dated March&nbsp;17, 2009, we have prepared the following responses to your
comments based on your consideration of the Company&#146;s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
year ended September&nbsp;30, 2008 and Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule&nbsp;14A filed on January&nbsp;15,
2009 (the &#147;2009 Proxy&#148;).
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">For your convenience, we have set forth the original comments from your letter in bold typeface and
appearing below them are our responses.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Comments and Responses:</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt"><U><B>Form&nbsp;10-K for the fiscal year ended September&nbsp;30, 2008</B></U>

</DIV>
<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><U><B>Item&nbsp;7. Management&#146;s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,
page 15</B></U>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt"><U><B>Results of Operations, page 16</B></U>

</DIV>

<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="1%" nowrap align="left"><B>1.</B></TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD><B>We note your response to prior comment 7. We note that as a result of the error you
identified, your income before interest, income taxes and minority interest for the 11&nbsp;months
ended September&nbsp;30, 2006 was overstated by approximately 10.2%. Please explain to us how you
concluded that the error was not material to your financial statements. Please provide us
with your complete materiality analysis for the year ended September&nbsp;30, 2006.</B></TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>
<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">Based on our telephone conversation with a Commission representative on March&nbsp;31, 2009, we will
provide a separate explanation with the requested materiality analysis.<BR>
</DIV>


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>Powell Industries, Inc. </B><B>&#149;</B> PO Box 12818, Houston, Texas 77217 <B>&#149;</B> Tel: 713.944.6900 <B>&#149;</B> www.powellind.com
</DIV>


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</DIV>

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<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">




<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt">Mr.&nbsp;Kevin L. Vaughn<BR>
April&nbsp;1, 2009<BR>
Page 2
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><U><B>Note I. Income Taxes, page 53</B></U>
</DIV>


<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="1%" nowrap align="left"><B>2.</B></TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD><B>We have reviewed your response to prior comment 10. Rule&nbsp;4-</B><B>08(h)(1)(i)</B><B> of Regulation&nbsp;S-X
requires disclosure of the foreign components of income (loss)&nbsp;before income tax expense
(benefit)&nbsp;to the extent that such amounts exceed 5% of your income (loss)&nbsp;before income tax
expense (benefit). If your foreign income (loss)&nbsp;before income tax expense (benefit)&nbsp;exceeds
5% of your total income (loss)&nbsp;before income tax expense (benefit)&nbsp;in future filings, please
revise to comply.</B></TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">In future filings, we will revise the disclosure to comply with Rule&nbsp;4-08(h)(1)(i).
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><U><B>Item&nbsp;13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Director Independence, page 61</B></U>
</DIV>


<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="1%" nowrap align="left"><B>3.</B></TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD><B>We note your response to prior comment 11. Please provide us with the information required
under </B><B>Item 201(d)</B><B> of Regulation&nbsp;S-K. In addition, it is not clear why you believe that you do
not have any information to disclose under Item&nbsp;13 of </B><B>Form 10-K</B><B> as you state in your response.
Even if you did not have reportable transactions with the scope of subsection (a)&nbsp;of Item&nbsp;404
of Regulation&nbsp;S-K, you still must provide the disclosure required by subparagraph (b)&nbsp;of Item
404. Please advise.</B></TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">The information required under Item&nbsp;12 of Form 10-K by Item 201(d) of Regulation&nbsp;S-K is as follows:
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The following table provides information as of September&nbsp;30, 2008, regarding compensation
plans (including individual compensation arrangements) under which equity securities are authorized
for issuance:
</DIV>
<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="64%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Number of securities remaining</B></TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Number of securities to be</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Weighted-average</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>available for future issuance</B></TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>issued upon exercise of</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>exercise price of</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>under equity compensation plans</B></TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>outstanding options,</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>outstanding options,</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>(excluding securities shown in the</B></TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Plan category</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>warrants and rights</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>warrants and rights</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>first column)</B></TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Equity compensation plans
approved by
shareholders<SUP style="font-size: 85%; vertical-align: text-top">(1)</SUP></DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right">407,600</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right">$</TD>
    <TD align="right">17.14</TD>
    <TD nowrap><SUP style="font-size: 85%; vertical-align: text-top">(2)</SUP></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right">1,242,000</TD>
    <TD nowrap><SUP style="font-size: 85%; vertical-align: text-top">(3)</SUP></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Equity compensation plans
not approved by
shareholders</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right">&#151;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right">&#151;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right">&#151;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 1px">
    <TD colspan="13" align="left" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Total</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right">407,600</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right">$</TD>
    <TD align="right">17.14</TD>
    <TD nowrap><SUP style="font-size: 85%; vertical-align: text-top">(2)</SUP></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right">1,242,000</TD>
    <TD nowrap><SUP style="font-size: 85%; vertical-align: text-top">(3)</SUP></TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>



<DIV align="left">
<DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 18%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV>

<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR>
    <TD width="3%"></TD>
    <TD width="1%"></TD>
    <TD width="96"></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap align="left">(1)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Consists of shares of common stock issued or remaining available for issuance under our
Restricted Stock Plan, our 2000 Non-Employee Stock Option Plan, our 2006 Equity Compensation
Plan and our 1992 Stock Option Plan.</TD>
</TR>

<TR style="font-size: 3pt"><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>

<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap align="left">(2)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>This weighted average exercise price applies only to 267,300 shares issuable upon exercise of
outstanding options under our 1992 Stock Option Plan. The remainder of the outstanding
securities are either unvested shares of restricted stock or restricted stock units for which
there is no applicable exercise price.</TD>
</TR>

<TR style="font-size: 3pt"><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>

<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap align="left">(3)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Consists of 100,000 shares remaining available for issuance under our Restricted Stock Plan,
33,000 shares remaining available for issuance under our 2000 Non-Employee Stock Option Plan,
609,000 shares remaining available for issuance under our 2006 Equity Compensation Plan and
500,000 shares remaining available for issuance under our 1992 Stock Option Plan.</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>



<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>Powell Industries, Inc. </B><B>&#149;</B> PO Box 12818, Houston, Texas 77217 <B>&#149;</B> Tel: 713.944.6900 <B>&#149;</B> www.powellind.com
</DIV>


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<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">




<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt">Mr. Kevin L. Vaughn<BR>
April&nbsp;1, 2009<BR>
Page 3
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">We did not have any transactions to report in the last proxy statement pursuant to Item 404(a) of
Regulation&nbsp;S-K. The Instruction to Item 404(b) indicates that the disclosure required pursuant to
Item 404(b) does not need to be included if such Item 404(a) transactions do not exist; therefore,
we did not include such disclosure. In future filings, we will include the requested Item 404(b)
disclosure.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><U><B>Schedule&nbsp;14A Proxy Statement filed January&nbsp;15, 2009</B></U>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt"><U><B>Executive Compensation, page 13</B></U>

</DIV>

<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="1%" nowrap align="left"><B>4.</B></TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD><B>We note your response to prior comment 17. Please clarify how you believe the disclosure on
pages 14 and 15 of your proxy statement provides the type of analytical disclosure that is
required under </B><B>Item 402(b)</B><B> of Regulation&nbsp;S-K. The disclosure on page 15 indicates that the
Compensation Committee considers individual responsibilities, competitive market data, stock
price performance, and individual and company performance when determining the type, size and
conditions of long-term equity compensation. Yet, we cannot locate any corresponding
disclosure that addresses how the Committee&#146;s consideration of these factors resulted in the
specific allocations of equity compensation in 2008. Please discuss and analyze how the
Compensation Committee determined the actual number of shares underlying the equity awards
made to your named executive officers in 2008 and describe why the Compensation Committee
believed those amounts were appropriate in light of the factors it considered.</B></TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">The disclosure on pages 14 and 15 of the proxy statement provides a general description of the
factors that the Compensation Committee considers when determining the type, size and conditions of
long-term equity compensation. The corresponding disclosure that addresses how the Compensation
Committee determined the specific allocations of equity compensation in 2008 is found on pages 18
and 19 of the proxy statement. The Company has reviewed Item 402(b) of Regulation&nbsp;S-K and believes
that its disclosure fully complied with the standards set forth therein.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">As disclosed on page 15 of the proxy statement, &#147;The Compensation Committee exercises discretion in
determining the number and type of equity awards to be given to our named executive officers as
long-term incentive compensation.&#148; Even though certain components that are considered by the
Compensation Committee in setting the level of long-term incentive compensation for the named
executive officers are objective, the determination is ultimately a matter of the Committee&#146;s
judgment. Therefore, the Company does not believe that there is any further disclosure it could
make that would add to the descriptions previously included in its proxy statement. The
Compensation Committee has overriding discretion with respect to awards, regardless of whether, or
to the extent that, any of the corporate or individual objectives are met.
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>Powell Industries, Inc. </B><B>&#149;</B> PO Box 12818, Houston, Texas 77217 <B>&#149;</B> Tel: 713.944.6900 <B>&#149;</B> www.powellind.com
</DIV>


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<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">




<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt">Mr.&nbsp;Kevin L. Vaughn<BR>
April&nbsp;1, 2009<BR>
Page 4
</DIV>


<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="1%" nowrap align="left"><B>5.</B></TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD><B>We note your response to prior comment 18. You have not provided a description of the
specific items of corporate and individual performance that you consider when determining the
different forms and levels of compensation awarded in 2008. In addressing the specific
factors the Compensation Committee considers in determining the compensation of your named
executive officers, please include a discussion of the specific items of corporate or
individual performance that are taken into account in setting compensation policies or making
compensation decisions. We will revisit your competitive harm analysis once you provide us
with the specific items of corporate and individual performance that you utilize for purposes
of deriving your named executive officers&#146; compensation.</B></TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">As disclosed on page 14 of the proxy statement, the Compensation Committee considers the Company&#146;s
performance as determined by earnings per fully diluted share, or EPS, and the Company&#146;s return on
equity. The Compensation Committee also considers the corporate and individual achievement of
objectives set at the discretion of the Compensation Committee on an annual basis, such as those
set forth in more detail under the &#147;Performance Evaluations&#148; section on page 18 of the proxy
statement. The Company has determined that the disclosure of the specific corporate and individual
goals generally described in the proxy statement would meet the competitive harm standards set
forth in Instruction 4 to Item 402(b) of Regulation&nbsp;S-K, as noted in our response to prior comment
18. In the case of individual objectives, although the nature of the goal varies by individual
based upon position and scope of responsibility, the goals, if disclosed, would provide
confidential, competitive insight into the Company&#146;s business plan, focus and strategies. In
addition, in light of the response provided to comment 4 above, the Company does not believe that
additional disclosure would add any further enhancement to the proxy reader&#146;s understanding of the
Company&#146;s compensation policies.
</DIV>

<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="1%" nowrap align="left"><B>6.</B></TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD><B>We note that in your response to prior comment 20 you appear to state that you will provide
SFAS 123R grant date fair value of each share-based award disclosed in the Grants of Plan
Based Awards table, however the summary compensation table requires disclosure of the amount
recognized for financial statement reporting purposes with respect to the fiscal year for
awards of stock or options. Please clarify.</B></TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">Our prior response merely meant to indicate that we would provide the disclosure required by Item
402 of Regulation&nbsp;S-K which requires, for awards of stock, &#147;the dollar amount recognized for
financial statement reporting purposes with respect to the fiscal year in accordance with FAS
123R.&#148; We intend to provide this information in future filings.
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>Powell Industries, Inc. </B><B>&#149;</B> PO Box 12818, Houston, Texas 77217 <B>&#149;</B> Tel: 713.944.6900 <B>&#149;</B> www.powellind.com
</DIV>


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<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">




<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt">Mr. Kevin L. Vaughn<BR>
April&nbsp;1, 2009<BR>
Page 5
</DIV>


<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="1%" nowrap align="left"><B>7.</B></TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD><B>We note your response to prior comment 21. You appear to include the information relating to
your short term incentive plan in the Grants of Plan Based Awards table, while changing the
description so you no longer describe it as a plan. Please clarify whether you are treating
the short term incentive plan as a plan as defined in Item&nbsp;</B><B>402(a)(6)(ii)</B><B>-(iii) of Regulation
S-K.</B></TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">Our prior response was an attempt to explain why this information was not previously included in
the Grants of Plan Based Awards table. However, given the broad definition of &#147;plan&#148; under Item
402(a)(6)(ii)-(iii), we will consider compensation paid under this program as a &#147;plan&#148; in future
filings and, therefore, will include it in the Grants of Plan Based Awards table as well.
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt">* * * * * * * *
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">As requested in your original February&nbsp;19, 2009 letter, the Company acknowledges that:
</DIV>

<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="2%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left"><B>&#149;</B></TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>the Company is responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure in the
filing;</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="2%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left"><B>&#149;</B></TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>staff comments or changes to disclosure in response to staff comments do not
foreclose the Commission from taking any action with respect to the filing; and</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="2%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left"><B>&#149;</B></TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>the Company may not assert staff comments as a defense in any proceeding initiated
by the Commission or any person under the federal securities laws of the United States.</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">Should you have any additional questions, please contact me by phone at (713)&nbsp;944-6900, fax at
(713)&nbsp;947-4435 or e-mail at don.madison@powellind.com. We will be pleased to provide any
additional information that may be necessary.
</DIV>

<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR>
    <TD width="48%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="35%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="15%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD valign="top" align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="3" align="left">Sincerely yours,<BR>
<BR>
POWELL INDUSTRIES, INC.<BR>
&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">By:&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000" align="left"><I>/ s / Don R. Madison</I>
&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" align="left">Don R. Madison&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" align="left">Executive Vice President<BR>
Chief Financial and Administrative Officer&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD colspan="5">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="8%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="91%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Copies to:
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Eric Atallah, SEC, Division of Corporation Finance<BR>
Ruairi Regan, Staff Attorney, SEC<BR>
Jay Ingram, Special Counsel, SEC<BR>
Patrick L. McDonald, President and Chief Executive Officer<BR>
Milburn E. Honeycutt, Vice President and Controller<BR>
David R. Crabtree, PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP<BR>
Ross Margraves, Winstead PC</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>Powell Industries, Inc. </B><B>&#149;</B> PO Box 12818, Houston, Texas 77217 <B>&#149;</B> Tel: 713.944.6900 <B>&#149;</B> www.powellind.com
</DIV>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->&nbsp;<!-- /Folio -->
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