The purpose of this chapter is to promote the public welfare by regulating insurance rates so that they are not excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory, and to authorize and regulate limited cooperative action among insurers in ratemaking-related activities and in other matters within the scope of this chapter. Nothing in this chapter is intended to prohibit or discourage reasonable competition, or to prohibit, or encourage except to the extent necessary to accomplish the aforementioned purpose, uniformity in rating systems, rating plans, or practices. This chapter must be liberally interpreted to carry into effect this section.