(a) The purposes of this article are to:

1. (1) create a legal framework within which service contracts may be sold in this state;
2. (2) encourage the marketing and developing of more economical and effective means of providing services under service contracts; and
3. (3) permit and encourage fair and effective competition among different systems of providing and paying for these services.

(b) This article shall not apply to:

1. (1) Express or implied warranties;
2. (2) Maintenance agreements;
3. (3) Warranties, service contracts or maintenance agreements offered by public utilities on their transmission devices to the extent they are regulated by the public service commission; and
4. (4) Warranties, service contracts and maintenance agreements that are conditioned upon or otherwise associated with the sale or supply of heating fuel.