(1) Reserves for all policies and contracts issued prior to July 10, 1982, may be calculated, at the option of the company, according to any standards which produce greater aggregate reserves for all such policies and contracts than the minimum reserves required by the laws in effect immediately prior to such date.
(2) Reserves for any category of policies, contracts, or benefits as established by the commissioner, issued on or after July 10, 1982, may be calculated, at the option of the company, according to any standards which produce greater aggregate reserves for such category than those calculated according to the minimum standard herein provided, but the rate or rates of interest used for policies and contracts, other than annuity and pure endowment contracts, shall not be greater than the corresponding rate or rates of interest used in calculating any nonforfeiture benefits provided in the policies or contracts.
(3) A company which adopts at any time any standard of valuation producing greater aggregate reserves than those calculated according to the minimum standard under this chapter may , adopt a lower standard of valuation with the approval of the commissioner, but not lower than the minimum provided. For the purposes of this section, the holding of additional reserves previously determined by the appointed actuary to be necessary to render the opinion required under RCW
48.74.025 and
48.74.028 is not to be the adoption of a higher standard of valuation.