HOUSTON, TX--(MARKET WIRE)--Jan 9, 2009 -- Kayne Anderson Energy Total Return Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") (NYSE:KYE - News) announced today that it intends to satisfy the provisions under the Fund's Dividend Reinvestment Plan by purchasing shares of common stock on the open market at prevailing prices, plus applicable brokerage commissions. The Fund is purchasing shares of common stock on the open market because the Fund's net asset value per share on January 8, 2009 was $14.08 per share, which was in excess of the closing market price of the Fund's common stock of $14.00 per share on such date.

The Fund is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 whose common stock is traded on the NYSE. The Fund's investment objective is to obtain a high total return with an emphasis on current income by investing primarily in securities of companies engaged in the energy industry, principally including publicly-traded energy-related master limited partnerships and limited liability companies taxed as partnerships and their affiliates, energy-related U.S. and Canadian royalty trusts and income trusts and other companies that derive at least 50% of their revenues from operating assets used in, or providing energy-related services for, the exploration, development, production, gathering, transportation, processing, storing, refining, distribution, mining or marketing of natural gas, natural gas liquids (including propane), crude oil, refined petroleum products or coal.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined under the U.S. federal securities laws. Generally, the words "believe," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "project," "will" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, which generally are not historical in nature. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to materially differ from the Fund's historical experience and its present expectations or projections indicated in any forward-looking statement. These risks include, but are not limited to, changes in economic and political conditions; regulatory and legal changes; energy industry risk; commodity pricing risk; leverage risk; valuation risk; non-diversification risk; interest rate risk; tax risk; and other risks discussed in the Fund's filings with the SEC. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. The Fund undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements made herein. There is no assurance that the Fund's investment objectives will be attained.

     Contact:
      
     KA Fund Advisors, LLC
     Monique Vo
     877-657-3863
     http://www.kaynefunds.com/