Prospectus excerpt:  Tortoise Energy Capital Corporation is a nondiversified, closed-end management investment company. Our investment objective is to seek a high level of total return with an emphasis on current distributions to stockholders.

We are offering our mandatory redeemable preferred stock (referred to as ÙMandatory Redeemable Preferred Sharesˆ or ÙMRP Sharesˆ) with an aggregate liquidation preference of $50,000,000 in this prospectus supplement. This prospectus supplement is not complete and should be read in conjunction with our prospectus dated April 5, 2012 (the Ùaccompanying prospectusˆ), which accompanies this prospectus supplement. This prospectus supplement does not include all of the information that you should consider before purchasing any MRP Shares. You should read this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus prior to purchasing any MRP Shares.

Investors in MRP Shares will be entitled to receive cash dividends at an annual rate of 3.95% per annum. Dividends on the MRP Shares will be payable monthly. The initial dividend period for the MRP Shares will commence on the issue date and end on May 31, 2012. Each subsequent dividend period will be a calendar month (or the portion thereof occurring prior to the redemption of such MRP Shares). Dividends will be paid on the first business day of the month next following a dividend period and upon redemption of the MRP Shares. Dividends with respect to any monthly dividend period will be declared and paid to holders of record of MRP Shares as their names appear on our books and records at the close of business on the 15th day of such monthly dividend period (or if such day is not a business day, the next preceding business day).

We are required to redeem the MRP Shares on May 1, 2018. In addition, MRP Shares are subject to optional and mandatory redemption by us in certain circumstances described in this prospectus supplement.