-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 LMgojtbJjKMuZMoRzNZ99fx0Ktj5hur6iudU9DqwTrRkOnlFeYwZkJuGHtCFKZxK
 YjUmQeW6gADhal1Q29RgFA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000070858-09-000384.txt : 20090924
<SEC-HEADER>0000070858-09-000384.hdr.sgml : 20090924
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090924154942
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000070858-09-000384
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090921
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090924
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090924

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TORTOISE ENERGY CAPITAL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001319869
		IRS NUMBER:				000000000
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1130

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		11550 ASH STREET, SUITE 300
		CITY:			LEAWOOD
		STATE:			KS
		ZIP:			66211
		BUSINESS PHONE:		913-981-1020

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		11550 ASH STREET, SUITE 300
		CITY:			LEAWOOD
		STATE:			KS
		ZIP:			66211

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	Tortoise MLP Investment CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20050304

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BANK OF AMERICA CORP /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000070858
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-21725
		FILM NUMBER:		091085014

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATE CENTER
		STREET 2:		100 N TRYON ST
		CITY:			CHARLOTTE
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28255
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7043868486

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATE CENTER
		STREET 2:		100 N TRYON ST
		CITY:			CHARLOTTE
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28255

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BANKAMERICA CORP/DE/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19981022

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	NATIONSBANK CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	NCNB CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920107

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INC.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000728612
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SECURITY BROKERS, DEALERS & FLOTATION COMPANIES [6211]
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-21725
		FILM NUMBER:		091085013

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4 WORLD FINANCIAL CENTER
		STREET 2:		NORTH TOWER
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10080
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2126702273

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4 WORLD FINANCIAL CENTER
		STREET 2:		NORTH TOWER
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10080

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MERRILL LYNCH PIERCE FENNER & SMITH INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920929
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-09-21</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001319869</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TORTOISE ENERGY CAPITAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TYY</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000070858</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BANK OF AMERICA CORP /DE/</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATE CENTER</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>100 N TRYON ST</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHARLOTTE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>28255</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000728612</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER &amp; SMITH INC.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>4 WORLD FINANCIAL CENTER</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>NORTH TOWER</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10080</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-09-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2009-09-21</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>100</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>20.24</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>100</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By subsidiary</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-09-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2009-09-21</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>100</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>20.24</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By subsidiary</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <remarks>The transactions reported on this Form 4 were affected by Merrill Lyncn, Pierce, Fenner &amp; Smith Incorporated, an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Bank of America Corporation, By:/s/Angelina L. Richardson, Vice President</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-09-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner &amp; Smith Incorporated, By:/s/Robert M. Shine, Attorney-In-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-09-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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