Requiring electric utilities to rely more on wind power, as Gov. Martin O’Malley is pushing, will not cost Maryland ratepayers anything for the next five years, and will cost them at most an extra $2 on their monthly electric bills, state lawmakers said at a rally in Annapolis Wednesday.

The rate increase would not kick in until construction begins on offshore wind turbines, which is expected no sooner than 2017, if O’Malley’s Offshore Wind Energy Act passes.