An electrical heater and method for heating a catalyst. The electrical heater includes a honeycomb body having a central axis extending longitudinally therethrough. The honeycomb body includes a matrix of intersecting walls forming a plurality of cells extending axially through the honeycomb body. A plurality of electrodes are positioned about an outer periphery of the honeycomb body. The plurality of electrodes are arranged into a plurality of pairs of electrodes that comprises at least a first pair of electrodes and a second pair of electrodes. Each pair of electrodes includes a first electrode and a second electrode. An electrode length of the electrodes along the outer periphery is proportional to a central current path length between center points of the electrodes of that pair of electrode. The electrode lengths of the electrodes of the first and second pairs of electrode are different.