(a) The purpose of this chapter is to promote the public welfare by regulating insurance rates as provided in this chapter to the end that they shall not be excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory; to authorize the existence and operation of qualified rating organizations and advisory organizations and require that specified rating services of such rating organizations be generally available to all admitted insurers; and to authorize cooperation between insurers in rate making and other related matters.

(b) It is the express intent of this chapter to permit and encourage competition between insurers on a sound financial basis to the fullest extent possible. However, nothing in this chapter is intended or should be construed to restrict the Commissioner in any way, on his own motion or otherwise, to take any affirmative action by rule, regulation, or administrative determination in a particular case, cases, or class of cases which he may deem necessary to protect the public's interest in maintaining the standards prescribed in Code Section 33-9-4; and Code Sections 33-9-26 through 33-9-29 in particular shall in no way be viewed as exhaustive or restrictive of the powers or procedures available to the Commissioner for this purpose.