<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-01-23</periodOfReport>
    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000043350</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ENERGY WEST INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>EWST</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001229171</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MORIN JAMES E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>PO BOX 2229</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GREAT FALLS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>59403</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Pres. of Energy West Resources</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>ESOP</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1453</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By ESOP Plan</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Retirement Savings 401K Match</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>464</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By Plan</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>ISOP</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>9.00</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1998-09-17</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2003-09-17</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>3000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>ISOP</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>8.491</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2002-11-21</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2007-11-21</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>3500</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Not Yet Exercised</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Jamie Bleskin</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-11</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

