A heater control module of the present disclosure controls exhaust temperature in an exhaust after treatment system. The heater control module includes a heating mode determination module and a heater operating module. The heating mode determination module is configured to select a desired heating mode from a plurality of heating modes based on an engine load and a status of a component of the exhaust aftertreatment system. The heater operating module is configured to operate an electric heater based on the desired heating mode. The plurality of modes includes at least a passive regeneration heating mode and an active regeneration heating mode. The electric heater is operated in the passive regeneration heating mode to heat an exhaust gas to a predetermined temperature to increase NO2 generation when an engine load is less than or equal to approximately 25%.