EXHIBIT 99.1


                            CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
                             18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
                             AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
                  SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

         In connection with the Quarterly Report (the "Report") of Powell
Industries, Inc. (the "Company") on Form 10-Q for the period ended January 31,
2003 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof, I,
Thomas W. Powell, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify,
pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

         (1)      The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section
                  13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

         (2)      The information contained in the Report fairly represents, in
                  all material respects, the financial condition and results of
                  operations of the Company.



Date: March 4, 2003                       /s/ THOMAS W. POWELL
                                          -----------------------------------
                                          Thomas W. Powell
                                          President and Chief Executive Officer