Preliminary Prospectus Supplement

The information in this preliminary prospectus supplement is not complete and may be changed. This preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are not an offer to sell these securities and they are not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

The notes will bear interest at the rate of % per year. We will pay interest on the notes semi-annually in arrears on and of each year, beginning on , 2014. The notes will mature on .

We may redeem some or all of the notes at any time at the applicable redemption price described in this prospectus supplement, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the redemption date. See “Description of the Notes—Optional Redemption.” There is no sinking fund for the notes.

The notes will be issued in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. The notes will be unsecured and will rank on parity with our other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness and will be effectively subordinated to our secured indebtedness.

Investing in the notes involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-4.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market. The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange or quoted on any automated quotation system. Currently, there is no public market for the notes.

The underwriters expect to deliver the notes through the book-entry form facilities of The Depository Trust Company on or about May , 2014.

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or any free writing prospectus required to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC. We and the underwriters have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. If you receive any other information, you should not rely on it. We and the underwriters are not making an offer of these securities, or soliciting an offer to buy these securities, in any jurisdiction where the offer or solicitation is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any free writing prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the respective dates that are specified in those documents. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those respective dates.

This prospectus supplement is a supplement to the accompanying prospectus that also is part of this document. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC, using a “shelf” registration process. Under the shelf process, we may, from time to time, issue and sell to the public any combination of the securities described in the accompanying prospectus up to an indeterminate amount, of which this offering is a part.

This document is in two parts. The first part of this document is this prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms of the notes we are offering and certain other matters relating to us and our financial condition. The second part, the accompanying prospectus, gives more general information about securities we may offer from time to time, some of which does not apply to the notes we are offering. Generally, when we refer to the prospectus, we are referring to both parts of this document combined. If the description of the offering varies between this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, you should rely on the information in this prospectus supplement.

The information contained in this prospectus supplement may add, update or change information contained in the accompanying prospectus or in documents which we file or have filed with the SEC on or before the date of this prospectus supplement and which documents are incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. To the extent the information contained in this prospectus supplement differs or varies from the information contained in the accompanying prospectus or documents incorporated by reference filed before the date of this prospectus supplement, the information in this prospectus supplement will supersede such information.

This prospectus supplement and the documents we incorporate by reference contain forward-looking statements. For a description of these statements and a discussion of the factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from these statements, see “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in the accompanying prospectus and in the documents we incorporate by reference and “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-4.

In this prospectus supplement, “we,” “our,” “ours” and “us” refers to Tampa Electric Company, unless the context otherwise requires.

SUMMARY

This summary contains basic information that is important to you. The “Description of the Notes” section of this prospectus supplement contains more detailed information about the terms and conditions of the notes. You should carefully read this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein in their entirety before making an investment decision.

Tampa Electric Company

Tampa Electric Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of TECO Energy, Inc., or TECO Energy, an energy-related holding company. Other TECO Energy subsidiaries include TECO Coal Corporation and its subsidiaries, which own and operate coal production facilities in the Central Appalachian coal production region. In 2012, TECO Energy completed the sale of its generating and transmission assets in Guatemala. In May 2013, TECO Energy announced it had entered into an agreement to acquire the regulated natural gas distribution utility, New Mexico Gas Company, which serves approximately 509,000, primarily residential, customers throughout New Mexico. Completion of the acquisition is subject to various customary conditions, including, among others, receipt of all required regulatory approvals. You can also read the reports filed by TECO Energy with the SEC for more information regarding its business, operating results and financial condition.

Tampa Electric Company is a public utility company. Its Tampa Electric division, or Tampa Electric, serves almost 700,000 retail customers in a 2,000-square-mile service area in West Central Florida and has electric generating plants with a net winter system generating capacity of 4,668 megawatts.

Peoples Gas System, also a division of Tampa Electric Company and Florida’s largest gas distribution utility, serves almost 350,000 residential, commercial, industrial and electric power generating customers in all major metropolitan areas of the state, with an annual natural gas throughput of almost 1.7 billion therms in 2013.

The principal executive offices of Tampa Electric Company are located at TECO Plaza, 702 North Franklin Street, Tampa, Florida 33602, telephone (813) 228-1111.

The Offering

Issuer

Tampa Electric Company.

Notes Offered

$ aggregate principal amount of % notes due .

Maturity Date

Interest Rate

The notes will bear interest at % per year.

Interest Payment Dates

Semi-annually in arrears on and , commencing on , 2014. Interest payments will be made to the persons in whose names the notes are registered on the 15th calendar day immediately preceding the applicable interest payment date.

Denominations

$1,000 with integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

Optional Redemption

At any time prior to , we may at our option redeem the notes, in whole or in part, at a “make-whole” redemption price as described under “Description of the Notes—Optional Redemption.” At any time on or after , we may at our option redeem the notes, in whole or in part, at 100% of the principal amount of the notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to but excluding the date of redemption.

Ranking

The notes will be unsecured and will rank on a parity with our other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness and will be effectively subordinated to our secured indebtedness. As of May 9, 2014, we had no secured indebtedness outstanding.

Use of Proceeds

We expect to use the net proceeds to repay short-term debt and for general corporate purposes. See “Use of Proceeds” in this prospectus supplement.

Additional Issuances

We may, without the consent of the holders of the notes, issue additional notes having the same ranking and the same interest rate, maturity and other terms as the notes. Any additional notes having such similar terms, together with the notes, may constitute a single series of notes under the indenture.

Form

The notes will be represented by registered global securities registered in the name of Cede & Co., the partnership nominee of the depositary, The Depository Trust Company, DTC, or other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. Beneficial interests in the notes will be shown on, and transfers will be effected through, records maintained by DTC and its participants.

Trustee

The Bank of New York Mellon.

Governing Law

The indenture and the notes will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

Risk Factors

You should carefully consider the factors referred to or as described in the section of this prospectus supplement entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-4 and the “Risk Factors” section in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, before deciding to invest in the notes.

Conflicts of Interest

Because one or more of the underwriters or their affiliates may receive more than 5% of the net proceeds from the sale of the notes, a “conflict of interest” may be deemed to exist under FINRA Rule 5121. Therefore, the offering will be made in compliance with such rule. See “Underwriting—Conflicts of Interest” in this prospectus supplement.

In deciding whether to purchase the notes, you should consider carefully the following factors that could cause our operating results and financial condition to be materially adversely affected. You should also consider the other factors that could cause the consolidated operating results and financial condition of our parent, TECO Energy, included in Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, which we file jointly with TECO Energy, as updated by our and TECO Energy’s filings with the SEC.

We may redeem all or a portion of the notes at our option at any time. See “Description of the Notes—Optional Redemption.” If prevailing interest rates are lower at the time of redemption, holders of the notes may not be able to reinvest the redemption proceeds in a comparable security at an interest rate as high as the interest rate of the notes being redeemed.

We cannot provide assurance that an active trading market will develop for the notes.

The notes will constitute a new series of securities with no established trading market. We do not intend to apply for listing of the notes on any national securities exchange or quotation on any automated quotation system. We cannot provide assurance that an active trading market for the notes will develop or as to the liquidity or sustainability of any such market, the ability of holders of the notes to sell their notes or the price at which holders of the notes will be able to sell their notes. Future trading prices of the notes will also depend on many other factors, including, among other things, prevailing interest rates, the market for similar securities, our financial performance and other factors.

We have substantial indebtedness, which could adversely affect our financial condition and financial flexibility.

We have substantial indebtedness, which has resulted in fixed charges we are obligated to pay. The level of our indebtedness and restrictive covenants contained in our debt obligations could limit our ability to obtain additional financing.

We must meet certain financial tests as defined in the applicable agreements to use our credit facilities. Also, we have certain restrictive covenants in specific agreements and debt instruments. These restrictive covenants could further limit our ability to obtain additional financing.

As of March 31, 2014, we were in compliance with required financial covenants, but we cannot be assured that we will be in compliance with these financial covenants in the future. Our failure to comply with any of these covenants or to meet our payment obligations could result in an event of default which, if not cured or waived, could result in the acceleration of other outstanding debt obligations. We may not have sufficient working capital or liquidity to satisfy our debt obligations in the event of an acceleration of all or a portion of our outstanding obligations.

Financial market conditions could limit our access to capital and increase our costs of borrowing or refinancing, or have other adverse effects on our results.

The financial market conditions that were experienced in 2008 and early 2009 impacted access to both the short-and long-term capital markets and the cost of such capital. Future financial market conditions could limit our ability to raise the capital we need and could increase our interest costs which could reduce earnings.

We enter into derivative transactions, primarily with financial institutions as counterparties. Financial market turmoil could lead to a sudden decline in credit quality among these counterparties, which could make in-the-money positions uncollectable.

We enter into derivative transactions with counterparties, most of which are financial institutions, to hedge our exposure to commodity price changes. Although we believe we have appropriate credit policies in place to manage the non-performance risk associated with these transactions, turmoil in the financial markets could lead to a sudden decline in credit quality among these counterparties. If such a decline occurs for a counterparty with which we have an in-the-money position, we could be unable to collect from such counterparty.

Declines in the financial markets or in interest rates used to determine benefit obligations could increase our pension expense or the required cash contributions to maintain required levels of funding for our plan.

Under calculation requirements of the Pension Protection Act, as of the January 1, 2014, measurement date, the funded percentage of our plan is expected to be approximately 98%. We estimate our contributions to range from $3 million to $39 million annually over the next five years. Any future declines in the financial markets or further declines in interest rates could increase the amount of contributions required to fund our plan in the future.

We estimate that pension expense in 2014 will be lower than in 2013, primarily due to the higher interest rates and pension plan asset growth in 2013. Any future declines in the financial markets or decreases in interest rates, however could, cause pension expense to increase in future years.

Our financial condition and results could be adversely affected if our capital expenditures are greater than forecast.

We are forecasting capital expenditures to support the current levels of customer growth, to comply with the design changes mandated by the Florida Public Service Commission, or the FPSC, to harden transmission and distribution facilities against hurricane damage, to maintain transmission and distribution system reliability, to maintain coal-fired generating unit reliability and efficiency, and to add generating capacity at the Polk Power Station.

If our capital expenditures exceed the forecasted levels, we may need to draw on credit facilities or access the capital markets on unfavorable terms. We cannot be sure that we will be able to obtain additional financing, in which case our financial position could be adversely affected.

Our financial condition and ability to access capital may be materially adversely affected by multiple ratings downgrades to below investment grade, and we cannot be assured of any rating improvements in the future.

Our senior unsecured debt is rated by Standard & Poor’s (S&P) at BBB+, by Moody’s Investor’s Services (Moody’s) at A2 and by Fitch Ratings (Fitch) at A-. A downgrade to below investment grade by the rating agencies may affect our ability to borrow, may change requirements for future collateral or margin postings, and may increase our financing costs, which may decrease our earnings. We may also experience greater interest expense than we may have otherwise if, in future periods, we replace maturing debt with new debt bearing higher interest rates due to any such downgrades. In addition, downgrades could adversely affect our relationships with customers and counterparties.

At current ratings, Tampa Electric and Peoples Gas System are able to purchase electricity and gas without providing collateral. If the ratings of Tampa Electric Company decline to below investment grade, Tampa Electric and Peoples Gas System could be required to post collateral to support their purchases of electricity and gas.

Our businesses are affected by general economic conditions. In particular, growth in our service area and in Florida is important to the realization of annual energy sales growth. Any weakening of economic conditions, including the Florida housing markets and general economy, could adversely affect our expected performance and our ability to collect payments from customers.

Our businesses are highly regulated; changes in regulation or the regulatory environment could reduce revenues or increase costs or competition.

Tampa Electric and Peoples Gas System operate in highly regulated industries. Our retail operations, including the prices charged, are regulated by the FPSC, and Tampa Electric’s wholesale power sales and transmission services are subject to regulation by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Changes in regulatory requirements or adverse regulatory actions could have an adverse effect on Tampa Electric’s or Peoples Gas System’s financial performance by, for example, reducing revenues, increasing competition or costs, threatening investment recovery or impacting rate structure.

If Tampa Electric or Peoples Gas System earn returns on equity above their respective allowed ranges, our earnings could be subject to review by the FPSC, which could result in refunds to customers or changes in allowed returns on equity, which could reduce earnings and cash flow.

Changes in the environmental laws and regulations affecting our businesses could increase our costs or curtail our activities.

Our businesses are subject to regulation by various governmental authorities dealing with air, water and other environmental matters. Changes in compliance requirements or the interpretation by governmental authorities of existing requirements may impose additional costs on us or require us to curtail some of our businesses’ activities.

Proposed new regulations on the disposal and/or storage of coal combustion residuals (CCRs) could add to our operating costs.

In response to a coal ash pond failure in December 2008 at another utility, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed new regulations for the management and disposal of CCRs. These proposed rules include two potential approaches. One approach, known as Subtitle C, would categorize CCRs destined for disposal as hazardous wastes. This proposal could be the most significant for Tampa Electric because management and disposal of hazardous wastes is extremely expensive, and waste landfills are currently prohibited in Florida by state law. In addition, the hazardous designation could require improvements to Tampa Electric’s current ash management practices and interim storage and handling facilities for CCRs inside its power stations, even though permanent onsite disposal would not be allowed. The other proposed rule would set minimum standards for the final disposal of CCRs under regulations similar to those in place for municipal non-hazardous solid waste. This proposal would not be as disruptive as the former, since it would allow for the continued operation of ash impoundments on Tampa Electric’s facilities. However it is unclear whether this approach would place additional management requirements on these existing disposal units or cause them to need structural improvements. The EPA’s current schedule would result in a final proposed rule in 2015, although expected litigation would likely delay the rule’s effective date.

Federal or state regulation of Green House Gas (GHG) emissions, depending on how they are enacted, could increase our costs or the rates charged to our customers, which could curtail sales.

We have a significant number of stationary sources with air emissions. While GHG emission regulations have been proposed, both at the federal and state level, none has been passed at this time and, therefore, costs to reduce GHGs are unknown. Presently there is no viable technology to remove CO₂ post-combustion from

conventional coal-fired units such as our Big Bend units. New rules requiring post-combustion CO₂ removal could require significant investment in what is essentially experimental technology, costly conversion to natural gas fuel, or a premature shut-down of the units, which would result in non-cash write-offs.

Current regulation in Florida allows utility companies to recover from customers prudently incurred costs for compliance with new environmental regulations. We would expect to recover from customers the costs of power plant modifications or other costs required to comply with new GHG emission regulation. If the regulation allowing cost recovery is changed and the cost of compliance is not recovered through the Environmental Cost Recovery Clause (ECRC), we could seek to recover those costs through a base-rate proceeding, but we cannot be assured that the FPSC would grant such recovery.

In a June 25, 2013, memorandum to the EPA, President Obama directed that agency to issue new emissions standards for future power plants as well as modified, reconstructed or existing power plants to reduce GHG emissions. The new standards for future power plants were released in the fall of 2013, which essentially mandate that no new coal fired power plants will be constructed in the U.S. The new standards for existing power plants are due in June 2014. It is unclear how the EPA may design such rules. It is likely that both rules will be subject to legal challenges and litigation, which could have a material impact on both the timing and substance of any proposed new rules.

Among other rules, the EPA has proposed a number of new rules, including the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR)/Cross State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) and Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPS) Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) for emissions into the air, and a number of new rules focused on water use and discharges from power generation facilities.

Together these air-focused rules impose stringent reductions in several pollutants from electric utility steam generators, primarily coal-fired, but including oil-fired as well. If the CSAPR rule is implemented as planned, the EPA has estimated that the implementation of CSAPR would require significant investment in pollution-control equipment for units not already equipped or could result in the retirement of primarily smaller, older coal-fired power stations that do not currently have state-of-the-art air pollution-control equipment already installed.

The EPA’s proposed water-focused rules could limit the supply of water available to our power generating facilities, require the investment of significant capital for new equipment and increase operating costs.

A mandatory renewable energy portfolio standard (RPS) could add to our costs and adversely affect our operating results.

In past sessions of the Florida legislature, an RPS was debated but ultimately not enacted, but an RPS standard could be enacted in the future. In addition, there is the potential that legislation could be proposed in the U.S. Congress to introduce an RPS at the federal level. It remains unclear, however, if or when action on such legislation would be completed. Tampa Electric could incur significant costs to comply with an RPS. Our operating results could be adversely affected if we were not permitted to recover these costs from customers through the ECRC.

We, the state of Florida and the nation as a whole are increasingly dependent on natural gas to generate electricity. There may not be adequate infrastructure to deliver adequate quantities of natural gas to meet the expected future demand, and the expected higher demand for natural gas may lead to increasing costs for the commodity.

In Florida and across the United States, utilities are increasingly relying on natural gas for new electric generating plants in response to GHG emissions concerns and attractive natural gas prices. Currently, there is an adequate supply and infrastructure to meet demand for natural gas in Florida and nationally. However, if future supplies are inadequate or if significant new investment is required to install the pipelines necessary to transport the gas, the cost of natural gas could rise. Currently, Tampa Electric and Peoples Gas System are allowed to pass

the cost for the commodity gas and transportation services through to customers without profit. Changes in regulations could reduce earnings if they required Tampa Electric or Peoples Gas System to bear a portion of the increased cost. In addition, increased costs to customers could result in lower sales.

Our businesses are sensitive to variations in weather and the effects of extreme weather, and have seasonal variations.

Our businesses are affected by variations in general weather conditions and unusually severe weather. Tampa Electric’s and Peoples Gas System’s energy sales are particularly sensitive to variations in weather conditions. Those companies forecast energy sales on the basis of normal weather, which represents a long-term historical average. If climate change or other factors cause significant variations from normal weather, this could have a material impact on energy sales.

Peoples Gas System, which has a typically short but significant winter peak period that is dependent on cold weather, is more weather-sensitive than Tampa Electric, which has both summer and winter peak periods. Mild winter weather in Florida can be expected to negatively impact results at Tampa Electric and Peoples Gas System.

The state of Florida is exposed to extreme weather, including hurricanes, which can cause damage to our facilities and affect our ability to serve customers.

As a company with electric service and natural gas operations in peninsular Florida, we are exposed to extreme weather events, such as hurricanes. Extreme weather conditions can be destructive, causing outages and property damage that require the company to incur additional expenses. Extensive customer outages could reduce revenue collections. If warmer temperatures lead to changes in extreme weather events (increased frequency, duration and severity), these expenses could be greater.

While we have storm preparation and recovery plans in place, and Tampa Electric and Peoples Gas System have historically been granted regulatory approval to recover or defer the majority of significant storm costs incurred, extreme weather still poses risks to our operations and storm cost-recovery petitions may not always be granted or may not be granted in a timely manner. If costs associated with future severe weather events cannot be recovered in a timely manner, or in an amount sufficient to cover actual costs, our financial condition and operating results could be adversely affected.

Commodity price changes may affect the operating costs and competitive positions of our business.

Our business is sensitive to changes in coal, gas, oil and other commodity prices. Any changes could affect the prices we charge, our operating costs and the competitive position of our products and services.

In the case of Tampa Electric, fuel costs used for generation are affected primarily by the cost of coal and natural gas. Tampa Electric is able to recover prudently incurred costs of fuel through retail customers’ bills, but increases in fuel costs affect electric prices and, therefore, the competitive position of electricity against other energy sources.

The ability to make sales and the margins earned on wholesale power sales are affected by the cost of fuel to Tampa Electric, particularly as it compares to the costs of other power producers.

In the case of Peoples Gas System, costs for purchased gas and pipeline capacity are recovered through retail customers’ bills, but increases in gas costs affect total retail prices and, therefore, the competitive position of Peoples Gas System relative to electricity, other forms of energy and other gas suppliers.

Our results may be affected by changes in customer energy-usage patterns and the cost of complying with potential new environmental regulations.

For the past several years, weather-normalized energy consumption per residential customer declined due to the combined effects of voluntary conservation efforts, economic conditions, improvements in lighting and appliance efficiency, trends toward smaller single family houses and increased multi-family housing.

Our forecasts are based on normal weather patterns and historical trends in customer energy-usage patterns. Tampa Electric’s and Peoples Gas System’s ability to increase energy sales and earnings could be negatively impacted if customers continue to use less energy in response to increased energy efficiency of lights and appliances, economic conditions or other factors.

Compliance with proposed GHG emissions reductions, a mandatory RPS or other new regulation could raise our costs. While current regulation allows us to recover the cost of new environmental regulation through the ECRC, increased costs for electricity may cause customers to change usage patterns, which would impact our sales.

Our computer systems and Tampa Electric’s infrastructure may be subject to cyber (primarily electronic or internet-based) or physical attacks, which could disrupt operations, cause loss of important data or compromise customer, employee-related or other critical information or systems, or adversely affect our business and financial results and condition.

There have been an increasing number of cyber-attacks on companies around the world, which have caused operational failures or compromised sensitive corporate or customer data. These attacks have occurred over the Internet, through malware, viruses, or attachments to e-mails or through persons inside of the organization or through persons with access to systems inside of the organization.

We have security systems and infrastructure in place that are designed to prevent such attacks, and these systems are subject to internal, external and regulatory audits to ensure adequacy. Despite these efforts, we cannot be assured that a cyber-attack will not cause electric or gas system operational problems, disruptions of service to customers, compromise important data or systems, or subject us to additional regulation, litigation or damage to our reputation.

There have also been physical attacks on critical infrastructure at other utilities. While our transmission and distribution system infrastructure is designed and operated in such a manner to mitigate the impact of this type of attack, in the event of a physical attack that disrupts service to customers, revenues would be reduced and costs would be incurred to repair any damage. These types of events, either impacting our facilities or the industry in general, could also cause us to incur additional security- and insurance-related costs, and could have adverse effects on our business and financial results and condition.

We rely on some transmission and distribution assets that we do not own or control to deliver wholesale electricity and natural gas. If transmission is disrupted, or if capacity is inadequate, our ability to sell and deliver electricity and natural gas may be hindered.

We depend on transmission and distribution facilities owned and operated by other utilities and energy companies to deliver the electricity and natural gas we sell to the wholesale and retail markets, as well as the natural gas we purchase for use in our electric generation facilities. If transmission is disrupted, or if capacity is inadequate, our ability to sell and deliver products and satisfy our contractual and service obligations may be hindered.

The FERC has issued regulations that require wholesale electric transmission services to be offered on an open-access, non-discriminatory basis. Although these regulations are designed to encourage competition in wholesale market transactions for electricity, there is the potential that fair and equal access to transmission systems will not be available or that sufficient transmission capacity will not be available to transmit electric power as we desire. We cannot predict the timing of industry changes as a result of these initiatives or the adequacy of transmission facilities. Likewise, unexpected interruption in upstream natural gas supply or transmission could affect our ability to generate power or deliver natural gas to local distribution customers.

Impairment testing of certain long-lived assets could result in impairment charges.

We evaluate our long-lived assets for impairment annually or more frequently if certain triggering events occur. Should the current carrying values of any of these assets not be recoverable, we would incur non-cash charges to write down the assets to fair market value.

We are subject to various operational risks, including accidents, equipment failures and operations below expected levels of performance or efficiency. We could incur problems such as the breakdown or failure of power generation equipment, transmission lines, pipelines or other equipment or processes that would result in performance below assumed levels of output or efficiency. The occurrence of one or more of these problems could cause us to incur substantial costs, including potential claims for damages that may exceed the scope of our insurance coverage, which could have an adverse impact on our financial condition and results from operations.

Increased customer use of distributed generation could adversely affect our regulated electric utility business.

In many areas of the country there is growing use of rooftop solar panels, small wind turbines and other small-scale methods of power generation, called distributed generation, by individual residential, commercial and industrial customers. Distributed generation is encouraged and supported by various special interest groups, tax incentives, renewable portfolio standards and special rates designed to support such generation.

Increased usage of distributed generation, particularly in those states where solar or wind resources are the most abundant, is reducing utility electricity sales but not reducing the need for ongoing investment in infrastructure to maintain or expand the transmission and distribution grid to reliably serve customers. Continued utility investment not supported by increased energy sales causes rates to increase for customers, which could further reduce energy sales and reduce profitability.

Potential competitive changes may adversely affect our regulated electric and gas businesses.

There is competition in wholesale power sales across the country. Some states have mandated or encouraged competition at the retail level and, in some situations, required divestiture of generating assets. While there is active wholesale competition in Florida, the retail electric business has remained substantially free from direct competition. Although not expected in the foreseeable future, changes in the competitive environment occasioned by legislation, regulation, market conditions or initiatives of other electric power providers, particularly with respect to retail competition, could adversely affect our business and its expected performance.

The gas distribution industry has been subject to competitive forces for several years. Gas services provided by Peoples Gas System are unbundled for all non-residential customers. Because Peoples Gas System earns margins on distribution of gas but not on the commodity itself, unbundling has not negatively impacted Peoples Gas System’s results. However, future structural changes that we cannot predict could adversely affect Peoples Gas System.

From time to time, we are a party to legal proceedings that may result in a material adverse effect on our financial condition.

From time to time, we are a party to, or otherwise involved in, lawsuits, claims, proceedings, investigations and other legal matters that have arisen in the ordinary course of conducting our business. While the outcome of these lawsuits, claims, proceedings, investigations and other legal matters which we are a party to, or otherwise involved in, cannot be predicted with certainty, an adverse outcome could result in a material adverse effect on our financial condition.

The following table sets forth our ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the periods indicated.

For the purposes of calculating these ratios, earnings consist of income from continuing operations before income taxes and fixed charges. Fixed charges consist of interest expense on indebtedness, amortization of debt premium and an estimate of the interest component of rentals. Interest expense includes total interest expense, excluding Allowance for Funds Used During Construction, and an estimate of the interest component of rentals.

The following table summarizes the historical capitalization of Tampa Electric Company at March 31, 2014, and its capitalization as adjusted to reflect the issuance and sale of notes contemplated by this prospectus supplement based on estimated net proceeds of $ million and our application of the net proceeds in the manner described in “Use of Proceeds” in this prospectus supplement.

We estimate that the net proceeds (after deducting the underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses payable by us) from this offering will be approximately $ million. We expect to use the net proceeds from this offering to repay short-term debt and for general corporate purposes. We will use a portion of the net proceeds from this offering to repay in full the amount, if any, drawn on our unsecured credit facility as of the closing date of this offering. We will use the remaining amount of net proceeds, in lieu of cash from sales of accounts receivable of Tampa Electric Company under our accounts receivable credit facility, to pay operating expenses of Tampa Electric Company, which has the effect of repaying our accounts receivable credit facility as accounts receivable are collected.

As of the close of business on May 9, 2014, there were $16 million in borrowings under our unsecured credit facility and approximately $107 million was drawn on our accounts receivable credit facility. Amounts drawn on our unsecured credit facility and on our accounts receivable credit facility and the respective interest rates on those amounts, all fluctuate daily; our unsecured credit facility matures December 17, 2018, and our accounts receivable credit facility matures February 13, 2015. Pending such uses, we will invest the net proceeds in short-term money market instruments.

Certain affiliates of the underwriters are lenders under our unsecured credit facility and will receive a portion of the net proceeds from this offering. See “Underwriting—Conflicts of Interest.”

The following description of the particular terms of the notes that we are offering supplements the description of the general terms of the debt securities under the caption “Description of Debt Securities of Tampa Electric Company” in the accompanying prospectus.

The following summaries of certain provisions of the indenture do not purport to be complete, and are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, the provisions of the indenture dated as of July 1, 1998, as amended by a third supplemental indenture thereto, and as further amended by a tenth supplemental indenture thereto, between us and The Bank of New York Mellon (formerly known as The Bank of New York), as Trustee, and as supplemented by an eleventh supplemental indenture thereto between us and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee, which has been filed with the SEC as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which the prospectus forms a part. The indenture provides for the issuance from time to time of various series of debt securities, including the notes.

For purposes of the following description, unless otherwise indicated, a business day is any day that is not (i) a day on which banking institutions in New York, New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close, or (ii) a day on which the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee is closed for business.

The initial aggregate principal amount of the notes offered under this prospectus supplement is $ . The notes will mature on .

The notes will bear interest at % per year (computed based on a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months). Interest on the notes will be payable semi-annually in arrears on and of each year, commencing , 2014. Interest payments will be made to the persons in whose names the notes are registered on the 15th calendar day (whether or not a business day) immediately preceding the related interest payment date.

Interest payable on the notes on any interest payment date or on the maturity date will be the amount of interest accrued from and including the date of original issuance or from and including the most recent interest payment date on which interest has been paid or duly made available for payment to, but excluding, such interest payment date or the maturity date, as the case may be. If any interest payment date for the notes falls on a day that is not a business day, the interest payment will be made on the next succeeding business day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay).

We may, without the consent of the holders of the notes, issue additional notes having the same ranking and the same interest rate, maturity and other terms (except for the issue date, price to public and, if applicable, the first interest payment date), and the same CUSIP number, as the notes. Any additional notes having such similar terms, together with the notes, may constitute a single series of notes under the indenture.

The notes will be our unsubordinated and unsecured obligations and will rank equally in right of payment with all of our other unsubordinated and unsecured indebtedness. The notes will not limit other indebtedness or securities that we or any of our subsidiaries may incur or issue or contain financial or similar restrictions on us or any of our subsidiaries. The notes will be effectively subordinated to our secured indebtedness, if any, to the extent of the collateral securing those obligations. Holders of secured indebtedness will have prior claim to those of our assets that constitute their collateral in the event of any distribution or payment of our assets in any foreclosure, dissolution, winding-up, liquidation, reorganization or other bankruptcy proceeding. As a result, you may receive less, ratably, than holders of secured indebtedness.

The notes will be issued in fully registered form, without coupons, in minimum denominations of $1,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. The notes will be initially issued as global securities. See “—Book-Entry, Delivery and Form” below for additional information concerning the notes and the book-entry system. The Depository Trust Company, or DTC, will be the depositary with respect to the notes. We will make all payments of principal and interest in immediately available funds to DTC in the City of New York.

Prior to , we may redeem all or any part of the notes at our option at any time and from time to time at a redemption price equal to the greater of:

plus, in either of the above cases, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the redemption date. From and after , the notes are subject to redemption in whole or in part at our option at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of notes then outstanding to be redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the redemption date.

We will deliver a notice of redemption at least 30 days but no more than 60 days before the redemption date to each holder of notes to be redeemed. If we elect to partially redeem the notes, the Trustee will select in a fair and appropriate manner the notes to be redeemed (or, in the case of notes held in global form, DTC will select the notes to be redeemed in accordance with its standard procedures).

Unless we default in payment of the redemption price, on and after the redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on the notes or portions thereof called for redemption.

“Comparable Treasury Issue” means with respect to any redemption date the United States Treasury security selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the notes to be redeemed that would be used, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of the notes. If the remaining term of the notes to be redeemed is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year will be used.

“Comparable Treasury Price” means (1) the average of five Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for the redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (2) if an Independent Investment Banker obtains fewer than five such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations.

“Independent Investment Banker” means BNY Mellon Capital Markets, LLC, Mitsubishi UFJ Securities (USA), Inc., RBC Capital Markets, LLC, SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, or any of their respective successors, as designated by us, or if all of those firms are unwilling or unable to serve as such, an independent investment and banking institution of national standing appointed by us.

“Reference Treasury Dealer” means a Primary Treasury Dealer (as defined below) selected by BNY Mellon Capital Markets, LLC, a Primary Treasury Dealer (as defined below) selected by Mitsubishi UFJ Securities (USA), Inc., RBC Capital Markets, LLC, a Primary Treasury Dealer (as defined below) selected by SunTrust

Robinson Humphrey, Inc., and a Primary Treasury Dealer (as defined below) selected by Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, or their affiliates and each of their respective successors; provided that if any of them ceases to be a primary U.S. Government securities dealer in New York City (a “Primary Treasury Dealer”), we will substitute another Primary Treasury Dealer.

“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by an Independent Investment Banker, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to an Independent Investment Banker at 3:30 p.m., New York City time, on the third business day preceding such redemption date.

“Treasury Rate” means, as of any redemption date, the rate per annum equal to the semiannual equivalent yield to maturity (computed as of the second business day immediately preceding that redemption date) of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for that redemption date.

The notes will be issued in global form. Each global note will be deposited on the date of the closing of the sale of the notes with, or on behalf of, DTC and registered in the name of Cede & Co., as DTC’s nominee, or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC.

So long as DTC, or its nominee, is the registered owner of a global note, DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the owner of such global note for all purposes under the indenture, including for any notices and voting. Except in limited circumstances, the owners of beneficial interests in a global security:

Accordingly, each person holding a beneficial interest in a global note must rely on the procedures of DTC and, if such person is not a direct participant, on procedures of the direct participant through which such person holds its interest, to exercise any of the rights of a registered owner of such note.

DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC). DTCC is the holding company for DTC, National

Securities Clearing Corporation and Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, all of which are registered clearing agencies. DTCC is owned by the users of its regulated subsidiaries. Access to the DTC system is also available to others such as both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a direct participant, either directly or indirectly. The DTC rules applicable to its participants are on file with the SEC. More information about DTC can be found at www.dtcc.com. The references to DTC’s websites are not intended to incorporate information on those websites into this prospectus by reference.

Purchases of notes under the DTC system must be made by or through direct participants, which will receive a credit for the notes on DTC’s records. The ownership interest of each actual purchaser of each note is in turn to be recorded on the direct and indirect participants’ records. Beneficial owners will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchase. Beneficial owners are, however, expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the transaction, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the direct or indirect participants through which the beneficial owner entered into the transaction. Transfers of ownership interests in the notes are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of direct and indirect participants acting on behalf of beneficial owners. Beneficial owners will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in notes, except in the event that use of the book-entry system for the notes is discontinued.

To facilitate subsequent transfers, all notes deposited by direct participants with DTC are registered in the name of DTC’s partnership nominee, Cede & Co., or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. The deposit of notes with DTC and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. or such other DTC nominee do not effect any change in beneficial ownership. DTC has no knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the notes; DTC’s records reflect only the identity of the direct participants to whose accounts the notes are credited, which may or may not be the beneficial owners. The direct and indirect participants will remain responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.

Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to direct participants, by direct participants to indirect participants, and by direct participants and indirect participants to beneficial owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time.

Redemption notices shall be sent to DTC. If less than all of the notes within an issue are being redeemed, DTC’s practice is to determine by lot the amount of the interest of each direct participant in such issue to be redeemed.

Neither DTC nor Cede & Co. (nor any other DTC nominee) will consent or vote with respect to the notes unless authorized in accordance with DTC’s Money Market Instruments Procedures. Under its usual procedures, DTC mails an omnibus proxy to Tampa Electric Company as soon as possible after the record date. The omnibus proxy assigns Cede & Co.’s consenting or voting rights to those direct participants to whose accounts the notes are credited on the record date (identified in a listing attached to the omnibus proxy).

Principal and interest payments on the notes will be made to Cede & Co., or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. DTC’s practice is to credit direct participants’ accounts, upon DTC’s receipt of funds and corresponding detail information from Tampa Electric Company or the Trustee, on the applicable payable date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTC’s records. Payments by participants to beneficial owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the accounts of customers registered in “street name,” and will be the responsibility of that participant and not of DTC, the Trustee or Tampa Electric Company, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time. Payment of principal and interest to Cede & Co. (or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC) is the responsibility of Tampa Electric Company or the Trustee, disbursement of payments to direct participants shall be the responsibility of DTC, and disbursement of payments to beneficial owners is the responsibility of direct and indirect participants.

A beneficial owner must give notice to elect to have its notes purchased or tendered, through its participant, to a tender agent, and shall effect delivery of such notes by causing the direct participant to transfer the participant’s interest in the notes, on DTC’s records, to a tender agent. The requirement for physical delivery of notes in connection with an optional tender or a mandatory purchase will be deemed satisfied when the ownership rights in the notes are transferred by direct participants on DTC’s records and followed by a book-entry credit of tendered notes to the tender agent’s account.

DTC may discontinue providing its services as depository with respect to the notes at any time by giving reasonable notice to Tampa Electric Company or the Trustee. Under such circumstances, in the event Tampa Electric Company does not appoint a successor securities depository, note certificates will be printed and delivered.

Tampa Electric Company may decide to discontinue use of the system of book-entry-only transfers through DTC (or a successor securities depository). In that event, note certificates will be printed and delivered.

The information in this section concerning DTC and DTC’s book-entry system has been obtained from sources that Tampa Electric Company believes to be reliable, but Tampa Electric Company takes no responsibility for their accuracy.

The Trustee is The Bank of New York Mellon, which maintains banking relationships with us and our affiliates in the ordinary course of business and serves as trustee under other indentures with us and some of our affiliates. The Trustee also is a party to our unsecured credit facility. If the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest (within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act), it will be required to eliminate the conflict or resign.

BNY Mellon Capital Markets, LLC, Mitsubishi UFJ Securities (USA), Inc., RBC Capital Markets, LLC, SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC are acting as joint book-running managers of the offering and are acting as representatives of the underwriters named below. Subject to the terms and conditions specified in an underwriting agreement dated the date of this prospectus supplement, each underwriter named below has, severally and not jointly, agreed to purchase, and we have agreed to sell to that underwriter, severally and not jointly, the principal amount of the notes set forth opposite the underwriter’s name below.

The underwriting agreement provides that the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the notes included in this offering are subject to approval of legal matters by counsel, including the validity of the notes, and other conditions contained in the underwriting agreement, such as the receipt by the underwriters of officer’s certificates and legal opinions. The underwriters reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify offers to the public and to reject orders in whole or in part. The underwriters are obligated to purchase all of the notes if they purchase any of the notes. The underwriting agreement also provides that if an underwriter defaults, the purchase commitments of non-defaulting underwriters may be correspondingly increased or the offering may be terminated.

We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or, if such indemnification is not available, to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make because of any of those liabilities.

The underwriters propose to offer the notes directly to the public at the public offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement, and to dealers at the public offering price less a concession not to exceed % of the principal amount of the notes. The underwriters may allow, and the dealers may reallow, a concession not to exceed % of the principal amount of the notes on sales to other dealers. After the initial public offering, the representatives may change the public offering price and concessions.

The notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market. We do not intend to apply for listing of the notes on any national securities exchange or for quotation of the notes on any automated dealer quotation system. The underwriters have advised us that they intend to make a market in the notes after the offering, although they are under no obligation to do so. The underwriters may discontinue any market-making activities at any time without any notice. We can give no assurance as to the liquidity of the trading market for the notes or that a public trading market for the notes will develop. If no active public trading market develops, the market price and liquidity of the notes may be adversely affected. If the notes are traded, they may trade at a discount from their initial offering price, depending on factors such as prevailing interest rates, the market for similar securities and our performance, as well as other factors not listed here.

We estimate that our share of the total expenses of the offering, excluding the underwriting discount, will be approximately $ .

In connection with the offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell the notes in the open market. These transactions may include over-allotment, syndicate covering transactions and stabilizing transactions. Over-allotment involves syndicate sales of notes in excess of the principal amount of notes to be purchased by the underwriters in the offering, which creates a syndicate short position. Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of the notes in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions. Stabilizing transactions consist of certain bids or purchases of notes made for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the notes while the offering is in progress.

The underwriters also may impose a penalty bid. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when the underwriting syndicate, in covering syndicate short positions or making stabilizing purchases, repurchases notes originally sold by that syndicate member.

Any of these activities may have the effect of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the notes. They may also cause the price of the notes to be higher than the price that otherwise might exist in the open market in the absence of these transactions. The underwriters may conduct these transactions in the over-the-counter market or otherwise. If the underwriters commence any of these transactions, they may discontinue them at any time.

We and the underwriters make no representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of the notes. In addition, we and the underwriters make no representation that the underwriters will engage in those types of transactions or that those transactions, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.

Certain of the underwriters, and some of their affiliates, have performed investment banking, financial advisory, commercial banking and other services for us and our affiliates from time to time for which they have received customary fees and expenses. The underwriters may, from time to time, engage in transactions with and perform services for us in the ordinary course of business, for which they will receive customary fees and commissions in connection with these services. The Bank of New York Mellon, the Trustee, is an affiliate of BNY Mellon Capital Markets, LLC, one of the joint book-running managers of this offering. In addition, affiliates of certain of the underwriters are lenders under our unsecured credit facility.

In addition, in the ordinary course of their various business activities, the underwriters and their respective affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers, and such investment and securities activities may involve securities and instruments of ours or our affiliates. If any of the underwriters or their affiliates has a lending relationship with us, certain of those underwriters and their affiliates routinely hedge, and certain other of those underwriters or their affiliates may hedge, their credit exposure to us consistent with their customary risk management policies. Typically, such underwriters and their affiliates would hedge such exposure by entering into transactions which consist of either the purchase of credit default swaps or the creation of short positions in our securities, including potentially the notes offered hereby. Any such credit default swaps or short positions could adversely affect future trading prices of the notes offered hereby. The underwriters and their respective affiliates may also make investment recommendations or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or financial instruments and may at any time hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long or short positions in such securities and instruments.

Certain affiliates of the underwriters, the Trustee and an affiliate of the Trustee will receive a portion of the net proceeds from this offering, and are deemed to have a “conflict of interest” within the meaning of FINRA Rule 5121. Therefore, this offering is being conducted in accordance with FINRA Rule 5121. Because the notes are “investment grade” rated as defined in FINRA Rule 5121, a qualified independent underwriter is not required. However, no underwriter having a conflict of interest under FINRA Rule 5121 will confirm sales to any account over which the underwriter exercises discretionary authority without the specific written approval of the accountholder.

Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP, Boston, Massachusetts will pass upon the validity of the notes offered hereby. Certain matters will be passed upon for the underwriters by Ropes & Gray LLP, Boston, Massachusetts.

The financial statements and financial statement schedule of Tampa Electric Company incorporated in this prospectus supplement by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered certified public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

Tampa Electric Company is subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and files reports and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any of these documents at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room. Our SEC filings are also available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Copies of certain information filed by us with the SEC are also available on TECO Energy’s website at www.tecoenergy.com. Our website is not part of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus. You may request a copy of the registration statement, including the exhibits to the registration statement, at no cost by writing or calling us at the address provided below under “Incorporation by Reference.”

We “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus supplement certain information we file with the SEC, which means that we are disclosing important information to you by referring you to another document. Any information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus supplement. Any reports filed by us with the SEC after the date of this prospectus supplement and before the date that the offering of the securities by means of this prospectus supplement is terminated will automatically update and, where applicable, supersede any information contained in this prospectus supplement or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement. We incorporate by reference into this prospectus supplement the documents listed below, which we have filed with the SEC, and any future filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act on or after the date of this prospectus supplement and before the termination of this offering; except that, unless we indicate otherwise, we do not incorporate any information furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K:

You may request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address:

Director of Investor Relations TECO Energy, Inc. 702 North Franklin Street Tampa, Florida 33602 (813) 228-1111

You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or any free writing prospectus required to be filed with the SEC. We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We are not, and the underwriters are not, making an offer of these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any free writing prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the respective dates that are specified in those documents. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those respective dates.

Tampa Electric Company may offer from time to time to sell debt securities consisting of debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness, first mortgage bonds and preferred stock.

This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. We may offer the securities as separate series, in amounts, prices and on terms determined at the time of the sale. When we offer securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement or a term sheet describing the terms of the specific issue, including the offering price of the securities. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement or term sheet, together with the additional information described under the heading “WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION” on page 1 of this prospectus, before you make your investment decision.

See Risk Factors on page 4 for information on where to find a discussion of certain factors that should be considered by prospective investors in these securities.

We may offer and sell these securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers or agents, or directly to investors, on a continuous or delayed basis.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

This prospectus may not be used to sell securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the “SEC,” using a “shelf” registration process. Under the shelf process, we may, from time to time, issue and sell to the public any combination of the securities described in the registration statement in one or more offerings. This prospectus is a part of the registration statement and does not contain all the information in the registration statement. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. Whenever a reference is made in this prospectus to one of our contracts or other documents, the reference is only a summary and you should refer to the exhibits that are a part of the registration statement for a copy of the contract or other document. You may review a copy of the registration statement at the SEC’s public reference room in Washington, D.C., as well as through the SEC’s website as indicated below under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

In this prospectus, “we”, “our”, “ours” and “us” refer to Tampa Electric Company unless otherwise specified or the context requires otherwise.

Tampa Electric Company is subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and files reports and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any of these documents at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room. Our SEC filings are also available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Copies of certain information filed with the SEC jointly by us and TECO Energy are also available on TECO Energy’s website at www.tecoenergy.com. TECO Energy’s website is not part of this prospectus. You may request a copy of the registration statement, including the exhibits to the registration statement, at no cost by writing or calling us at the address provided below under “Incorporation by Reference.”

We “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus certain information we file with the SEC, which means that we are disclosing important information to you by referring you to another document. Any information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus. Any reports filed by us with the SEC after the date of this prospectus and before the date that the offering of the securities by means of this prospectus is terminated will automatically update and, where applicable, supersede any information contained in this prospectus or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We incorporate by reference into this prospectus the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Tampa Electric Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, which we have filed with the SEC, and any future filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, on or after the date of this prospectus and before the termination of this offering; except that, unless we indicate otherwise, we do not incorporate any information furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K.

You may request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address:

You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus or any supplement or term sheet. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We are not making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or any supplement or term sheet is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of these documents.

This prospectus, any prospectus supplement or term sheet, and the documents we have incorporated by reference into this prospectus may contain statements about future events, expectations or future financial performance. These forward-looking statements are identifiable by our use of such words as “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “project,” “will” or other similar words or expressions.

are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions that we believe are reasonable, but they are open to a wide range of uncertainties and business risks and actual results may differ materially from those discussed in these statements. When considering forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the cautionary statements describing these uncertainties and business risks in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or term sheet and the documents incorporated by reference, including those set forth under “Risk Factors” in our filings with the SEC.

You should keep in mind that any forward-looking statement made by us in this prospectus or elsewhere speaks only as of the date on which we make it. New risks and uncertainties come up from time to time, and we are not able to predict these events or how they may affect us. In any event, these and other important factors may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by our forward-looking statements. We do not intend to update or revise the forward-looking statements in this prospectus after the date of this prospectus, except as may be required by law. In light of these risks and uncertainties, you should keep in mind that any forward-looking statement made in this prospectus or elsewhere might not occur.

Our business is subject to uncertainties and risks. You should carefully consider and evaluate all of the information included and incorporated by reference in this prospectus, including the risk factors incorporated by reference from our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as updated by our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other SEC filings filed after such annual report. It is possible that our business, financial condition, future prospects, liquidity or results of operations could be materially adversely affected by any of these risks.

We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement how we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities.

Tampa Electric Company is a public utility company that is a wholly owned subsidiary of TECO Energy. Its Tampa Electric division provides retail electric service to customers in west central Florida. Its Peoples Gas System division is engaged in the purchase and distribution of natural gas to residential, commercial and industrial and electric power generation customers throughout Florida.

Tampa Electric Company’s principal executive offices are located at 702 North Franklin Street, Tampa, Florida 33602. Tampa Electric Company’s telephone number is (813) 228-1111.

For the purposes of this section, “we”, “our”, “ours” and “us” refer to Tampa Electric Company.

The debt securities will be unsecured and, unless indicated otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement or term sheet, will rank on parity with all our other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. We will issue debt securities in one or more series under an indenture dated as of July 1, 1998 between Tampa Electric Company and The Bank of New York Mellon (formerly known as The Bank of New York), as trustee. We filed the indenture as an exhibit to Amendment No. 1 to Tampa Electric Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 dated July 13, 1998 (Registration No. 333-55873). The following description of the terms of the debt securities summarizes the material terms of the debt securities. The description is not complete and we refer you to the indenture, which we incorporate by reference.

The indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities or of any particular series of debt securities that we may issue under it. We are not required to issue debt securities of any series at the same time nor must the debt securities within any series bear interest at the same rate or mature on the same date.

Each time that we issue a new series of debt securities, the prospectus supplement or term sheet relating to that new series will describe the particular amount, price and other terms of those debt securities. These terms may include:

Unless the prospectus supplement or term sheet relating to the issuance of a series of debt securities indicates otherwise, the debt securities will have the following characteristics:

We will issue debt securities only in fully registered form, without coupons and in denominations of $1,000 or multiples of $1,000. We will not charge a service fee for the registration, transfer or exchange of debt securities, but we may require a payment sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with registration, transfer or exchange.

The principal of, and any premium and interest on, any debt securities will be payable at the corporate trust office of The Bank of New York Mellon specified for each series of securities and otherwise in New York, New York. Debt securities will be exchangeable and transfers thereof will be registrable at this corporate trust office. Payment of any interest due on any debt security will be made to the person in whose name the debt security is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for interest.

We will have the right to redeem the debt securities only upon written notice mailed between 30 and 60 days prior to the redemption date.

If we plan to redeem the debt securities, before the redemption occurs we are not required to:

We may offer and sell debt securities at a substantial discount below their principal amount. We will describe any applicable special federal income tax and other considerations, if any, in the relevant prospectus supplement or term sheet. We may also describe in the relevant prospectus supplement or term sheet certain special federal income tax or other considerations, if any, applicable to any debt securities that are denominated in a currency or currency unit other than U.S. dollars.

The indenture does not provide special protection for the debt securities in the event we are involved in a highly leveraged transaction.

If we decide to issue debt securities in the form of one or more global securities, then we will register the global securities in the name of the depositary for the global securities or the nominee of the depositary and the global securities will be delivered by the trustee to the depositary for credit to the accounts of the holders of beneficial interests in the debt securities.

The prospectus supplement or term sheet will describe the specific terms of the depositary arrangement for debt securities of a series that are issued in global form. None of our company, the trustee, any payment agent or the security registrar will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in a global debt security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to these beneficial ownership interests.

We will not consolidate or merge with or into any other corporation or other organization, or sell, convey or transfer all or substantially all of our assets to any individual or organization, unless:

Upon the assumption by the successor of our obligations under the indenture and the debt securities issued thereunder, and the satisfaction of any other conditions required by the indenture, the successor will succeed to and be substituted for us under the indenture.

The indenture provides that we and the trustee may modify or amend its terms with the consent of (i) the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each affected series and (ii) 66 2/3% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of all affected series. However, without the consent of each holder of all of the outstanding debt securities affected by that modification, we may not:

Under limited circumstances and only upon the fulfillment of conditions, we and the trustee may make modifications and amendments of the indenture without the consent of any holders of the debt securities.

The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may waive any past default under the indenture with respect to that series except:

An event of default with respect to debt securities of any series issued under the indenture is any one of the following events (unless inapplicable to the particular series, specifically modified or deleted as a term of such series or otherwise modified or deleted in an indenture supplemental to the indenture):

If an event of default with respect to any series of debt securities occurs and is continuing, the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may declare the principal amount (or, if any debt securities of that series are discounted debt securities, a portion of the principal amount that the terms of the series may specify) of all debt securities of that series to be immediately due and payable. Under some circumstances, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may rescind and annul that declaration and its consequences. The prospectus supplement or term sheet relating to any series of debt securities that are discounted debt securities will specify the particular provisions relating to acceleration of a portion of the principal amount of the discounted debt securities upon the occurrence of an event of default and the continuation of the event of default.

Subject to the provisions of the indenture relating to the duties of the trustee in case an event of default occurs and is continuing, the trustee is not obligated to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders unless the holders have offered to the trustee reasonable security or indemnity. Subject to such provisions for security and indemnification of the trustee and other rights of the trustee, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceedings for any remedy available to the trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee with respect to the debt securities of that series.

The holder of any debt security will have an absolute and unconditional right to receive payment of the principal of and any premium and, subject to limitations specified in the indenture, interest on such debt security on its stated maturity date (or, in the case of redemption, on the redemption date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any of these payments.

We must furnish to the trustee an annual statement that to the best of our knowledge we are not in default in the performance and observance of any terms, provisions or conditions of the indenture or, if there has been such a default, specifying each default and its status.

We will have satisfied and discharged the indenture and it will cease to be in effect (except as to our obligations to compensate, reimburse and indemnify the trustee pursuant to the indenture and some other obligations) when we deposit or cause to be deposited with the trustee, in trust, an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the debt securities not previously delivered to the trustee for cancellation, for the principal (and premium, if any) and interest to the date of the deposit (or to the stated maturity date or earlier redemption date for debt securities that have been called for redemption).

Unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement or term sheet for a series of debt securities, and subject to the terms of the indenture, we may request to be discharged from any and all obligations with respect to any debt securities or series of debt securities (except for certain obligations to register the transfer or exchange of such debt securities, to replace such debt securities if stolen, lost or mutilated, to maintain paying agencies and to hold money for payment in trust) on and after the date the conditions set forth in the indenture are satisfied. Such conditions include the deposit with the trustee, in trust for such purpose, of money and/or U.S. government obligations, which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide money in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on such debt securities on the stated maturity date of such payments or upon redemption, as the case may be, in accordance with the terms of the indenture and such debt securities.

Under current federal income tax law, the defeasance of the debt securities would be treated as a taxable exchange of the relevant debt securities in which holders of debt securities would recognize gain or loss. In addition, thereafter, the amount, timing and character of amounts that holders would be required to include in income might be different from that which would be includable in the absence of such defeasance. Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors as to the specific consequences of a defeasance, including the applicability and effect of tax laws other than the federal income tax laws.

The trustee is The Bank of New York Mellon, which maintains banking relationships with us in the ordinary course of business and serves as trustee under other indentures with us and some of our affiliates.

The indenture and the debt securities will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

For the purposes of this section, “we”, “our”, “ours” and “us” refer to Tampa Electric Company.

The first mortgage bonds will be issued under and secured by the Tampa Electric Company’s Indenture of Mortgage dated as of August 1, 1946 as supplemented and modified by nineteen supplemental indentures and one or more additional supplemental indentures creating each new series of first mortgage bonds, which we refer to hereinafter as the indenture, between Tampa Electric Company and U.S. Bank National Association, successor to State Street Bank and Trust Company, as trustee, mortgagee and secured party.

Copies of the instruments constituting the indenture are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and reference is made thereto for further information including definitions of certain terms used herein. The following description of the terms of the first mortgage bonds summarizes the material terms of the first mortgage bonds. The description is not complete and we refer you to the indenture, as may be amended or restated, which we incorporate by reference.

We will issue first mortgage bonds only in fully registered form, without coupons and in denominations of $1,000 or multiples of $1,000 unless otherwise stated in the prospectus supplement. The principal of, and any premium and interest on, any first mortgage bonds will be payable at the corporate trust office of U.S. Bank National Association specified for each series of securities and otherwise in New York, New York. First mortgage bonds will be exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of first mortgage bonds of other authorized denominations, and will be transferable at the trustee’s corporate trust office, without payment of any charge other than for any stamp tax or other governmental charge incident thereto.

Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement relating to the first mortgage bonds, there are no provisions in the Indenture that require the us to redeem, or permit the holders to cause a redemption of, the first mortgage bonds or that otherwise protect the holders in the event that we incur substantial additional indebtedness, whether or not in connection with a change in control.

The relevant prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any series of first mortgage bonds being offered pursuant to this prospectus, including:

The first mortgage bonds will be secured by the indenture equally and ratably with any additional first mortgage bonds that may be issued under the indenture. The indenture will create, as security for such outstanding or any additional first mortgage bonds, a first mortgage lien (subject to permitted encumbrances as defined in the indenture) upon certain electric utility property owned by us and described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Issuance of Additional Bonds and Withdrawal of Cash Deposited Against Such Issuance

The principal amount of first mortgage bonds which we may issue under the indenture is not limited except as follows. First mortgage bonds of any series may be issued from time to time on the basis of (i) 60% of available net additions, (ii) deposit of cash, and (iii) available mortgage bond retirements. With certain exceptions in the case of (iii) above, the issuance of new first mortgage bonds is subject to net earnings available for interest for 12 consecutive months out of the preceding 15 months being at least 2 times the annual interest requirements on all first mortgage bonds and all prior lien debt to be outstanding. Cash deposited with the trustee pursuant to (ii) above may be withdrawn to the extent of 60% of available net additions and 100% of available mortgage bond retirements.

We shall pay cash or deliver a principal amount of first mortgage bonds of any series to the trustee on or before April 1 of each year in an amount by which the minimum provision for depreciation for the preceding calendar year (i.e., 2 1/4% of the book cost of depreciable bondable property owned by the Company on April 1 of such year) exceeds available permitted credits consisting of (i) property additions, (ii) first mortgage bonds retired, and/or (iii) within specified limits, prior lien debt retired or renewals, replacements, improvements and additions to bondable prior lien property. Cash and first mortgage bonds held by the trustee in such Renewal and Replacement Fund may be withdrawn by using any of the aforesaid credits, or cash may be applied to the retirement of first mortgage bonds of any series, unless otherwise provided in the applicable supplemental indenture, at the applicable Special Redemption Price thereof.

If we decide to issue first mortgage bonds in the form of one or more global securities, then we will register the global securities in the name of the depositary for the global securities or the nominee of the depositary and the global securities will be delivered by the trustee to the depositary for credit to the accounts of the holders of beneficial interests in the first mortgage bonds.

The prospectus supplement or term sheet will describe the specific terms of the depositary arrangement for first mortgage bonds of a series that are issued in global form. None of our company, the trustee, any payment agent or the security registrar will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in a global first mortgage bond or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to these beneficial ownership interests.

A default is defined in the indenture as (a) failure to pay the principal or premium when due, (b) failure to pay interest for 30 days after becoming due, (c) failure to discharge or satisfy any sinking, improvement, maintenance, or renewal and replacement fund obligation for 60 days after becoming due, (d) failure to perform or observe other covenants, agreements or conditions for 90 days after notice, (e) entry of an order for reorganization or appointment of a trustee or receiver and continuance of such order or appointment unstayed for

90 days, (f) certain adjudications, petitions or consents in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization proceedings or (g) rendering of a judgment in excess of $100,000 and its continuance unsatisfied for 90 days.

Within 90 days after the occurrence of a default (not including any period of grace and irrespective of the giving of any required notice) the trustee shall give to the first mortgage bondholders notice of all defaults known to the trustee, unless such defaults shall have been cured before the giving of such notice, but in the case of a default described in clause (d) above, no such notice shall be given until at least 60 days after the occurrence thereof; provided, however, that except in the case of default in the payment of the principal of or interest on any of the first mortgage bonds, or in the payment of any sinking, improvement or purchase fund installment, the trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as its board of directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of directors and/or responsible officers of the trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the first mortgage bondholders. The indenture does not require the trustee to give any notice of any default which has been cured.

In case one or more defaults shall occur and be continuing, either the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the first mortgage bonds outstanding may accelerate the maturity of all the first mortgage bonds then outstanding. Such acceleration and its consequences may be annulled, prior to the sale of any part of the trust estate under the indenture, by the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the first mortgage bonds then outstanding, but only if all defaults have been cured and all payments due (other than by acceleration) have been made.

The holders of not less than a majority in principal amount outstanding of the first mortgage bonds have the right to require the trustee to enforce the indenture, but the trustee is entitled to receive reasonable indemnity and under certain circumstances is not required to act.

The rights of the first mortgage bondholders may be modified with the consent of the holders of 75% of the principal amount outstanding of the first mortgage bonds, including not less than 60% of the principal amount outstanding of each series affected, except that no modification of the terms of maturity or payment of principal, premium or interest and no modification permitting additional, prior or parity liens or reducing the percentage of first mortgage bonds required for modification, is effective against any first mortgage bondholder without its consent.

The holders of not less than 75% in aggregate principal amount of the first mortgage bonds then outstanding (including not less than 60% in principal amount of the first mortgage bonds of each series) may waive any past default and its consequences (except a default in the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any first mortgage bond).

We furnish written statements to the trustee annually and when certain events occur to show that we are in compliance with the indenture and that there are no defaults under the indenture. In some cases, these written statements must be provided by an independent accountant, appraiser or engineer.

The trustee is U.S. Bank National Association, which maintains banking relationships with us in the ordinary course of business.

For the purposes of this section, “we”, “our”, “ours” and “us” refer to Tampa Electric Company.

We currently have authorized 1,500,000 shares of undesignated preferred stock, $100 par value per share, and 2,500,000 shares of undesignated preferred stock, no par value per share, none of which were issued and outstanding as of the date of this prospectus. Under Florida law and our charter, our board is authorized to issue shares of preferred stock from time to time in one or more series without shareholder approval.

Subject to limitations prescribed by Florida law and our charter and by-laws, our board can determine the number of shares constituting each series of preferred stock and the designation, preferences, qualifications, and special or relative rights or privileges of that series. These may include provisions as may be desired concerning redemption, dividends, dissolution, or the distribution of assets, conversion or exchange, and other subjects or matters as may be fixed by resolution of the board or an authorized committee of the board.

On matters on which holders of shares of our preferred stock are entitled to vote, each holder of preferred stock, $100 par value, is entitled to one vote for each share held, and each holder of preferred stock, no par value, is entitled to one vote per $100 of liquidation value plus a pro rata fraction of one vote for each fraction of $100 liquidation value;

If we offer a specific series of preferred stock under this prospectus, we will describe the terms of the preferred stock in the prospectus supplement for such offering and will file a copy of the charter amendment establishing the terms of the preferred stock with the SEC. This description will include:

The preferred stock offered by this prospectus will, when issued, be fully paid and nonassessable and will not have, or be subject to, any preemptive or similar rights.

Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the preferred stock will, with respect to dividend rights and rights upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, rank as follows:

As used for these purposes, the term “equity securities” does not include convertible debt securities.

We and our agents and underwriters may sell and of the securities from time to time in one or more transactions:

We may solicit directly offers to purchase securities. We may also designate agents from time to time to solicit offers to purchase securities. Any agent, who may be deemed to be an “underwriter” as that term is defined in the Securities Act of 1933, may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by that agent at the time of resale.

If we use underwriters to sell securities, we will enter into an underwriting agreement with them at the time of the sale to them. The names of the underwriters will be set forth in the prospectus supplement that will be used by them together with this prospectus to make resales of the securities to the public. In connection with the sale of the securities offered, these underwriters may be deemed to have received compensation from us in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions. Underwriters may also receive commissions from purchasers of the securities.

Underwriters may also use dealers to sell securities. If this happens, these dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agents.

Any underwriting compensation paid by us to underwriters in connection with the offering of and of the securities, and any discounts, concessions or commissions allowed by underwriters to participating dealers, will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Underwriters, dealers, agents and other persons may be entitled, under agreements that may be entered into with us, to indemnification by us against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, or to contribution with respect to payments that they may be required to make in respect of these liabilities. Underwriters and agents may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us in the ordinary course of business.

If so indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will authorize underwriters, dealers, or other persons to solicit offers by certain institutions to purchase the securities offered by us under the prospectus pursuant to contracts providing for payment and delivery on a future date or dates. The obligations of any purchaser under any these contracts will be subject only to those conditions described in the applicable

prospectus supplement, and the prospectus supplement will set forth the price to be paid for securities pursuant to these contracts and the commissions payable for solicitation of these contracts.

Any underwriter may engage in over-allotment, stabilizing and syndicate short covering transactions and penalty bids only in compliance with Regulation M of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. If we offer securities in an “at the market” offering, stabilizing transactions will not be permitted. Over-allotment involves sales in excess of the offering size, which creates a short position. Stabilizing transactions involve bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum. Syndicate short covering transactions involve purchases of securities in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim selling concessions from dealers when the securities originally sold by the dealers are purchased in covering transactions to cover syndicate short positions. These transactions may cause the price of the securities sold in an offering to be higher than it would otherwise be. These transactions, if commenced, may be discontinued by the underwriters at any time.

Each series of securities offered under this prospectus will be a new issue with no established trading market. Any underwriters to whom we sell securities for public offering and sale may make a market in the securities, but these underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. We may elect to list any of the securities we may offer from time to time for trading on an exchange, but we are not obligated to do so.

The anticipated date of delivery of the securities offered hereby will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to each offering.

In connection with particular offerings of the securities in the future, and if stated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the validity of those securities may be passed upon for us by Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP, Boston, Massachusetts, or counsel named in the applicable prospectus supplement. Legal counsel to any underwriters may pass upon legal matters for such underwriters.

The financial statements and financial statement schedule incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Tampa Electric Company for the year ended December 31, 2011 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered certified public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.


	Per Note		Total
Price to Public⁽¹⁾		%	$
Underwriting Discount		%	$
Proceeds, before expenses, to Tampa Electric Company⁽¹⁾		%	$


BNY Mellon Capital Markets, LLC		Mitsubishi UFJ Securities		RBC Capital Markets		SunTrust Robinson Humphrey		Wells Fargo Securities


	Page
Prospectus Supplement

About This Prospectus Supplement		ii
Summary		S-1
Risk Factors		S-4
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges		S-11
Capitalization		S-11
Use of Proceeds		S-12
Description of the Notes		S-13
Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)		S-18
Legal Matters		S-21
Experts		S-21
Where You Can Find More Information		S-21
Incorporation By Reference		S-21

Prospectus

About This Prospectus		1
Where You Can Find More Information		2
Incorporation by Reference		2
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements		3
Risk Factors		4
Use of Proceeds		4
Tampa Electric Company		4
Description of Debt Securities of Tampa Electric Company		5
Description of First Mortgage Bonds of Tampa Electric Company		10
Description of Preferred Stock of Tampa Electric Company		13
Plan of Distribution		15
Legal Matters		17
Experts		17


	March 31, 2014
	Actual Amounts		As Adjusted
	($ in millions)
Cash and cash equivalents	$	16.9	$

Short-term debt		29.0
Long-term debt due within one year		83.3
Long-term debt, less amount due within one year		1,797.5

Total debt		1,909.8
Common equity		2,331.5

Total capitalization	$	4,241.3	$


Underwriter		Principal Amount of Notes
BNY Mellon Capital Markets, LLC
Mitsubishi UFJ Securities (USA), Inc.
RBC Capital Markets, LLC
SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc.
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
Fifth Third Securities, Inc.
Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.
The Williams Capital Group, L.P.

Total		$


Fifth Third Securities		Scotiabank		The Williams Capital Group, L.P.


BNY Mellon Capital Markets, LLC		Mitsubishi UFJ Securities		RBC Capital Markets		SunTrust Robinson Humphrey		Wells Fargo Securities


Fifth Third Securities		Scotiabank		The Williams Capital Group, L.P.