Oil and Gas get massive subsidies every year, but a huge part of it are the very popular heating oil subsidies that keep people alive in the winter. Could these be reduced or replaced if instead the government gave money towards families purchasing electric heaters and spending their money on that?
Edit: USA but i assume the problem is not uniquely ours
If the grid can run the AC it should be able to handle the heat pumps, arent they basically the same machine?
Almost, but the temperature difference is generally much greater in winter than summer meaning there is more demand for energy in winter. Also solar (and sometimes hydro) power is less effective in winter. Both factors mean that a grid that can handle summer might not be able to handle winter heat.
Remember, the above are factors. Your local grid’s exact energy mix matters here, some will have no problems.
They are, but in some places peak winter load is worse than peak summer load and with ACs running in reverse replacing oil furnaces things can get worse than expected
Functionally, yes. I mean, it needs to be the kind that have the reverse switch so you can switch it to heating in the winter, but it’s effectively the same power use.