If there is a difference of more than a few degrees between the inside temp and the temp you set the thermostat to in heat mode, it will kick the emergency strips on to catch up quicker. When it gets to the point where the outside unit can handle it, the strips should kick off and the outside unit start and do the rest. I'm about 180 miles NW of you, so we get much the same weather this time of year. My heat pump is a Carrier and works like I described above. Cut yours on heat, let the strips do their thing and then see if it doesn't just switch back to heat instead of auxiliary or emergency heat. You for sure don't want to be GA Power's new best friend by letting the strips run forever! If they don't kick off and the outside unit take over before the house gets up to your set temp, then call someone to come check it. Clean your filter good too. My niece was bitchin about her AC not working, so I went to see if I could figure it out. Her filter looked like Chewbacca crawled in there and died! I replaced the filter and it took off running. Good luck to you.
