It would seem that this is the time to invest in a storage and energy use timing system to lower electric bills by getting off peak power rates.  Add that to ground source heat pump heating and the extra costs would dissapear.  

Shorter payback could be obtained with conservation subsidies to homeowners.  This kind of system leads right into a futher investment in roof mounted solar PV/heat cogeneration.  Since the heating and battery storage system would work even better with this addition.

These systems ought to be targeted with a 5 to 10 cent per kwh subsidy payed right to homeoners.