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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.1



                            POWELL INDUSTRIES, INC.
                      INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN FOR 1996

                                 DECEMBER 1995



1.       PLAN PURPOSE

         The purpose of the plan is to recognize and reward key corporate and
         subsidiary employees for their contributions to the growth and
         profitability of Powell Industries, Inc. and its operating
         subsidiaries through the opportunity to earn incentive compensation,
         in addition to their base salaries, based on the performance of the
         Company or subsidiary.

2.       GENERAL DESCRIPTION

         Key corporate and subsidiary executives and managers will be selected
         for participation on an annual basis.  For each participant, a maximum
         incentive compensation opportunity will be established, and expressed
         as a percentage of the individual's base salary at the beginning of
         the plan year.  The actual amount of incentive compensation earned by
         each participant will be based on the performance of the Company or
         subsidiary against pre-established performance measures.  The
         performance measures for the subsidiary participants will include
         "return on revenues" and "revenue growth".  For corporate
         participants, the performance measures will include "Powell
         Industries, Inc. earnings per share", and "revenue growth".  Specific
         performance levels will be established each year based on an
         assessment of historical results, the budgeted performance for the
         plan year, and general business conditions.

         The plan will be administered by the Compensation Committee of the
         Board of Directors, in conjunction with the Chief Executive Officer.

3.       ELIGIBILITY AND INCENTIVE COMPENSATION OPPORTUNITY

         On an annual basis key corporate and subsidiary participants will be
         identified for participation.  Participation in one year does not
         guarantee participation in the following year.

         Subsidiary presidents will submit their recommended participants to
         the CEO for approval.  In addition, each subsidiary president may
         identify a general incentive "pool", which may be used to recognize
         the contributions of individuals within the subsidiary who are not
         named participants.





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         The CEO will recommend corporate participants for approval by the
         Compensation Committee.  The CEO may identify a general incentive
         "pool" which may be used to recognize the contributions of individuals
         who are not named participants.

         For each named participant, their "maximum incentive opportunity" will
         be identified, which is expressed as a percentage of base salary at
         the beginning of the plan year.

4.       PERFORMANCE MEASURES AND WEIGHTS

         The following performance measures will be used to measure the
         performance of the Company and determine the incentive award earned by
         each participant.  The weighting percentage reflects the relative
         weight given to each performance measure.

         SUBSIDIARY PARTICIPANTS

         o       70% Return on Revenues - Net profits before taxes divided by
                 total revenues

         o       30% Percent Growth of Total Revenues

         CORPORATE PARTICIPANTS

         o       70% Powell Industries, Inc. Earnings Per Share

         o       30% Percent Growth of Total Revenues Over Prior Year

         Prior to the beginning of the plan year, the performance standards for
         each subsidiary and Powell Industries, Inc. will be finalized,
         approved by the Compensation Committee, and communicated to
         participants.  The performance standards will be based on historical
         results, management's expectations for the coming year, and the
         general business environment.  The CEO will approve subsidiary
         performance standards, and the Compensation Committee will approve the
         company-wide performance standards.

         For 1995, the revenue growth standard for the corporation and
         subsidiaries will be 10%.  Beginning in 1996, the standard will be
         increased to 15%.

5.       COMPUTATION OF AWARDS

         For each subsidiary and Powell Industries, Inc., an Incentive
         Compensation Calculation Form will be prepared at the beginning of the
         plan year, which will include a listing of the participants, their
         base salary, and maximum incentive opportunity.  For each performance
         measure, a funding table will be attached which establishes the amount
         of incentive compensation earned at various performance levels.  The
         Incentive Compensation Calculation Form is attached.





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         In order to activate the plan for each subsidiary, the threshold
         Return on Revenue  (ROR) must be achieved.  If the ROR threshold is
         not achieved, no incentive awards will be paid, regardless of the
         revenue growth percentage.

         In order to activate the plan for corporate participants, the
         threshold Earnings Per Share (EPS) must be achieved.  If the EPS
         threshold is not achieved, no incentive awards will be paid,
         regardless of the revenue growth percentage.

         In computing performance results, ROR and EPS will be net of the
         accrued incentive compensation payments.

         In addition to the incentive award computed under this plan, the
         Compensation Committee may in its sole discretion, make additional
         discretionary awards to recognize significant individual
         contributions.  This discretionary award is limited to no more than
         30% of the individual's maximum incentive opportunity.

         The Compensation Committee, in conjunction with the CEO, may make
         adjustments to the subsidiary or Company performance results to
         eliminate the impact of extraordinary charges to earnings, both
         positive and negative.  The purpose of any such adjustment is to
         better reflect the performance of the subsidiary or Company. Each
         August, the Committee will meet to review the interim performance
         results of the Company and determine if extraordinary charges have
         occurred or are likely to occur that should be eliminated.

6.       PAYMENT OF AWARDS

         The annual incentive awards will be determined after the end of the
         plan year and paid as soon as practical.  Prior to payment of awards,
         the Compensation Committee will review and certify the incentive
         awards for all participants.

         Incentive awards will be computed based on the participant's base
         salary at the beginning of the plan year.

         A participant must be an active employee on the last day of the plan
         year in order to receive an incentive award.

         Participants added to the plan after the beginning of the plan year,
         will be eligible to receive a prorated award based on their salary
         when they became eligible.

         Participants who die, retire, or become disabled during the plan year
         will be eligible for a prorated award based on the number of months of
         active participation during the plan year.

7.       ADMINISTRATION OF PLAN

         The plan will be administered by the Compensation Committee, in
         conjunction with the CEO.  The Committee reserves the right to amend
         or terminate the plan at any





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         time, except that such amendment or termination will not affect any
         awards that have been earned but not paid.





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