RAVENSWOOD, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- A bill that passed the West Virginia legislature could offer a glimmer of hope to Century Aluminum. The plant closed last February leaving more than 600 people without a job.

Mike Dildine, a spokesperson for Century Aluminum, says the bill is a huge first step.

"The passage of the industrial power bill was a huge step forward," Dildine says. "Because it provides for us a mechanism to design an affordable power rate which is something we absolutely need if we are going to restart the smelter."

The House unanimously passed a Senate measure Tuesday that proposes linking utility rates to changes in the market prices for the goods made by qualifying businesses.

The bill would allow companies to pay more for power when their commodity is at a high price, and a lower rate when the commodity price is down.

These employers could negotiate special rate deals with power companies. If rate talks fail, the employer could petition regulators at the state's Public Service Commission for the special rate.

Appalachian Power has said Century Aluminum spent more than $100-million each year on power. When the plant closed, the cost of electricity was a major factor. Aluminum prices dropped significantly making it difficult to cover the costs.

"They'll be able to ride out these market fluctuations," Delegate Mitch Carmichael, a Republican from Jackson County says.

While Dildine says, "the sooner we can open the smelter, the better," this bill is just one piece of the puzzle.

Dildine says to re-start the smelter three things have to happen. They need a competitive long-term power contract, a contemporary labor agreement and they also need the expectation that aluminum prices will stay above the cost of the production.