Requesting Help from You, Our Ad-Vice Squad

We are following a tip that one of the major refrigerator manufacturers (name withheld for the time being) was or is circumventing Federal energy regulations.  The fridges did not pass efficiency requirements unless power features were disconnected, unless the drip tray heater (a heater which accelerates evaporation of the automatic defrost drip tray) was included but electrically disconnected when shipped.  The feature was electrically re-connected on a case by case basis when consumers complained.  Lack of the feature is said to be a problem in some North American regions.....perhaps those with high humidity.
What we want from our squad:

• Can you confirm this story either "on" or "off" the record?  "On" is nice.
• Does this un-named manufacturer wish to get ahead of this story and step up to explain this procedure, and save us the hardship of all this research and work?  Think of it as a plea bargain.  We promise to be as nice as we possibly can be.
• Are there any opinions about the legality of the procedure?
  We have multiple 2nd hand confirmations of the procedure but no first hand.  We have no opinions about the legality of the procedure
• UPDATE Nov 10:  Several more confirmations of the story arriving "off the record".  Any more on the record?